Circuit-component supplying apparatus having a vibration-resistant feeder

ABSTRACT

A circuit-component supplying apparatus including a plurality of feeders each of which stores a plurality of circuit components of a same sort and which supplies the components one by one from a component-supply portion thereof, a movable table which holds the feeders such that the respective component-supply portions of the feeders are arranged along a line and which is movable in a direction parallel to the line, and a table-driving device which moves and stops the movable table to position the component-supply portion of each of the feeders at a predetermined component-supplying position, the feeders including at least one connected feeder which includes a main portion which is held by the movable table and which supports a feeding mechanism which feeds the circuit components one by one to the component-supply portion of the connected feeder, a component-holding portion which holds the circuit components and from which the components are fed to the main portion by the feeding mechanism, and a connecting device which connects the component-holding portion to the main portion such that the connecting device allows a center of gravity of the component-holding portion and the circuit components held thereby to be moved relative to the main portion in a direction substantially parallel to the line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a circuit-component supplying apparatuswhich supplies circuit components such as electric-circuit orelectronic-circuit components, a circuit-component feeder which storesand supplies circuit components, and a circuit-component supplyingmethod, and relates particularly to the art of improving thecircuit-component supplying efficiency.

2. Related Art Statement

There is known a circuit-component supplying apparatus which includes aplurality of feeders each of which stores a number of circuitcomponents, and which selects an appropriate one of the feeders so thatthe selected feeder feeds or supplies the components. More specificallydescribed, the known circuit-component supplying apparatus includes (A)a plurality of feeders each of which stores a plurality of circuitcomponents of a same sort and which supplies the components one by onefrom a component-supply portion thereof; (B) a movable table which holdsthe feeders such that the respective component-supply portions of thefeeders are arranged along a line and which is movable in a directionparallel to the line; and (C) a table-driving device which moves andstops the movable table to position the component-supply portion of eachof the feeders at a predetermined component-supplying position.

The movable table may be a linearly movable table to which a pluralityof feeders are attached such that the respective component-supplyportions of the feeders are arranged along a straight line and which ismovable in a direction parallel to the straight line; or a full-circulartable which is rotatable about a vertical axis line and to which aplurality of feeders are attached such that the respectivecomponent-supply portions of the feeders are arranged along a circlewhose center rides on the axis line.

Each of the feeders includes a main portion and a circuit-componentholding portion. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/637,380 discloses a circuit-component supplying apparatus whichincludes a feeder including a main portion and additionally areel-holding portion as a component-holding portion. In the disclosedapparatus, circuit components are given in the form of a tape, which iswound around a reel which is held by the reel-holding portion such thatthe reel is rotatable about an axis line thereof and is detachable fromthe reel-holding portion. The reel-holding portion is fixed to the mainportion, and the tape is drawn out of the reel by a tape-feeding deviceprovided in the main portion, so that the components carried on the tapeare fed one by one to a component-supply portion of the feeder.

The main portion of each feeder is held by the movable table, so thatthe main portion is moved with the table as if it were an integralportion of the table. Thus, the main portion does not vibrate relativeto the table. On the other hand, the component-holding portion mayvibrate relative to the table. If the component-holding portion issufficiently large, the vibration thereof will sufficiently decrease.However, the mass of each feeder will increase and, when the movabletable holding those feeders is accelerated and decelerated, thevibration of the circuit-component supplying apparatus as a whole willincrease.

Hence, the circuit-component supplying apparatus disclosed in theabove-identified U.S. patent application employs areel-holding-portion-vibration preventing device. The preventing deviceincludes a bucket which is fixed to the movable table and in which therespective reel-holding portions of the feeders are accommodated, andtwo engagement members provided on the bucket. Each of the twoengagement members has a plurality of engagement recesses each of whichis engageable with a corresponding one of two engagement plates of eachof the reel-holding portions. In the state in which the two engagementplates of each reel-holding portion are engaged with one of theengagement recesses of one of the two engagement members and acorresponding one of the engagement recesses of the other engagementmember, respectively, the reel-holding portion is prevented fromvibrating in the direction of width thereof, i.e., in the direction ofmovement of the movable table. In particular, one of the two engagementmembers is provided with a pressing device which presses one engagementplate of the reel-holding portion against one side surface of oneengagement recess, so as to prevent the movement of the plate. Thus, thereel-holding portion does not need a high rigidity, for the purpose ofbeing prevented from vibrating when the movable table is accelerated anddecelerated. Therefore, the prior apparatus is free from the problem offailing to supply circuit components because the component-supplyportion of each feeder is moved out of position due to the vibration ofthe main portion thereof resulting from the vibration of thereel-holding portion thereof.

In the above-mentioned prior apparatus, the total mass of the movableelements including the movable table and the plurality of feeders isless increased than in the case where each of the reel-holding portionshas a high rigidity. However, since the prior apparatus employs thereel-holding-portion-vibration preventing device, the total mass of themovable elements is more or less increased. Therefore, if theacceleration and deceleration of the movable table are increased forimproving the component supplying efficiency, the vibration of thesupplying apparatus as a whole will be large, which leads to loweringthe accuracy of positioning of each feeder and even causing each feederto fail to supply a circuit component or components. In addition, sincethe total mass is high, the table-driving device should be one which hasa large capacity or high performance, which leads to increasing theproduction cost of the supplying apparatus. On the other hand, if themovable table is moved at low acceleration and deceleration forimproving the accuracy of positioning of each feeder and therebyimproving the reliability of supplying of circuit components, thecomponent supplying efficiency will be lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide acircuit-component supplying apparatus which enjoys an improvedcircuit-component supplying efficiency or reliability.

It is another object of the present invention to provide acircuit-component feeder which enjoys an improved circuit-componentsupplying efficiency or reliability.

It is another object of the present invention to provide acircuit-component supplying method which enjoys an improvedcircuit-component supplying efficiency or reliability.

It is another object of the present invention to provide acircuit-component mounting system which enjoys an improvedcircuit-component mounting efficiency or reliability.

The present invention provides a circuit-component supplying apparatus,a circuit-component feeder, a circuit-component supplying method, and acircuit-component mounting system which have one or more of thetechnical features which are described below in respective paragraphsgiven parenthesized sequential numbers (1) to (30). Any technicalfeature which includes another technical feature shall do so byreferring, at the beginning, to the parenthesized sequential numbergiven to that technical feature. Thus, two or more of the followingtechnical features may be combined, if appropriate. Each technicalfeature may be accompanied by a supplemental explanation, as needed.

(1) According to a first feature of the present invention, there isprovided a circuit-component supplying apparatus comprising a pluralityof feeders each of which stores a plurality of circuit components of asame sort and which supplies the components one by one from acomponent-supply portion thereof; a movable table which holds thefeeders such that the respective component-supply portions of thefeeders are arranged along a line and which is movable in a directionparallel to the line; and a table-driving device which moves and stopsthe movable table to position the component-supply portion of each ofthe feeders at a predetermined component-supplying position, the feederscomprising at least one connected feeder which comprises a main portionwhich is held by the movable table and which supports a feedingmechanism which feeds the circuit components one by one to thecomponent-supply portion of the connected feeder, a component-holdingportion which holds the circuit components and from which the componentsare fed to the main portion by the feeding mechanism, and a connectingdevice which connects the component-holding portion to the main portionsuch that the connecting device allows a center of gravity of thecomponent-holding portion and the circuit components held thereby to bemoved relative to the main portion in a direction substantially parallelto the line. It is not essentially required that the center of gravityof the component-holding portion and the circuit components held therebybe positioned below the main portion. For example, the center of gravitymay be positioned beside or above the main portion. In addition, theplurality of feeders may comprise one or ones each of which includes amain portion and a reel-holding portion and supplies circuit componentsin the form of a tape; one or ones each of which arranges, by utilizingvibration, tilt, or air flow, circuit components stored in its casing,into an array, and feeds the components one by one to itscomponent-supply portion; or one or more feeders of another or othersorts. The connecting device may be one, described later, which includesa connecting member and two hinge devices and which allows the whole ofthe component-holding portion to be substantially parallel-translatedrelative to the main portion. However, it is not limited to that. Forexample, the connecting device may be provided by an attachment portionof the component-holding portion which is attached to the main portionand which is formed of an elastically deformable material. In this case,too, the attachment portion allows the center of gravity of thecomponent-holding portion and the circuit components to be movedrelative to the main portion. That is, without any connecting deviceindependent of the component-holding portion, the center of gravity ofthe component-holding portion and the components may be allowed to moverelative to the main portion. The line along which the respectivecomponent-supply portions of the feeders are arranged may be a straightline, a circle, an arc (i.e., a part circle), a curve other than thearc, or any combination of two or more of those lines. If the line is astraight line, the movable table is a linearly movable table; if theline is a circle, the table is a circular (i.e., full-circular) tablewhich is rotatable about an axis line; and if the line is an arc, thetable is a sectorial table which is rotatable about an axis line. Thecircular or sectorial table can be said as a rotary table which isrotatable about an axis line. In the case where the movable table is therotary table, the main portion of the connected feeder is held by therotary table, and the main portion is rotated as if it were an integralportion of the table, when the table is rotated. However, thecomponent-holding portion and the circuit components whose center ofgravity is movable relative to the main portion in the direction ofmovement of the connected feeder do not have to be rotated as if theywere integral portions of the table. More specifically described, sincethe connecting device connects the component-holding portion to the mainportion, the component-holding portion and the components are alsorotated when the main portion is rotated, but are delayed, because oftheir inertial mass, from the main portion. Thus, the component-holdingportion and the components are rotated at an acceleration anddeceleration which are lower than an acceleration and a deceleration atwhich the main portion is rotated. Therefore, the vibration generated bythe present apparatus as a whole is small. On the other hand, if thecomponent-holding portion and the components are rotated at the sameacceleration and deceleration as those of the main portion, thevibration generated by the present apparatus would be large.Accordingly, in the present apparatus, the rotary table can be rotatedat higher acceleration and deceleration to more rapidly position thecomponent-supply portion of the connected feeder at thecomponent-supplying position, if the present apparatus is allowed tovibrate at the same level as that at which the apparatus would vibratewhen the component-holding portion and the components are rotated at thesame acceleration and deceleration as those of the main portion. Thus,the present apparatus can improve its component-supplying efficiency.Alternatively, the present apparatus can reduce the vibration andthereby improve the accuracy of positioning of the connected feeder atthe component-supplying position, without improving thecomponent-supplying efficiency. In the latter case, the presentapparatus can employ the table-driving device which has a smallcapacity, i.e., a low performance. The more the circuit components to besupplied are, and the larger the mass of the component-holding portionis, the more advantageous the present apparatus is. In the case wherethe movable tale is the linearly movable table, the component-holdingportion and the circuit components are delayed, because of theirinertial mass, from the main portion, when the table is moved along thestraight line. Owing to the connecting device, the component-holdingportion and the components are moved at an acceleration and decelerationwhich are lower than an acceleration and a deceleration at which themain portion is moved. Thus, the vibration generated by the presentapparatus is small. In the case where the movable table is the circulartable that produces, when being rotated, a moment about its axis lineonly, the vibration generated by the present apparatus as a whole isnaturally smaller than that generated in the case where the linearlymovable table is linearly moved. In addition, since thecomponent-holding portion and the components are rotated at loweracceleration and deceleration than the circular table, the vibrationgenerated by the apparatus is still smaller. Accordingly, the apparatuscan still more improve its component-supplying efficiency. In the casewhere the movable table is the sectorial table which is rotatable aboutan axis line, like the circular table, but whose center of gravity doesnot ride on the axis line, unlike the circular table, the sectorialtable have some natures similar to those of the linearly movable table.However, owing to the sectorial table, the present apparatus generatesonly smaller vibration as compared with an apparatus employing thelinearly movable table. In addition, since the component-holding portionand the components are rotated at lower acceleration and decelerationthan the sectorial table, the vibration generated by the apparatus isstill smaller. Accordingly, the apparatus can still more improve itscomponent-supplying efficiency.

(2) According to a second feature of the present invention whichincludes the first feature (1), the connecting device comprises meansfor connecting the component-holding portion of the connected feeder tothe main portion thereof such that a whole of the component-holdingportion is substantially parallel-translateable relative to the mainportion in the direction substantially parallel to the line. In thepresent apparatus, the whole of the component-holding portion of theconnected feeder is substantially parallel-translateable relative to themain portion thereof. In this case, the angle of inclination of thecomponent-holding portion when the component-holding portion is delayedfrom the main portion is smaller (or zero) than that in the case wherethe component-holding portion is connected to the main portion such thatthe component-holding portion is pivotable relative to the main portionabout an axis line.

(3) According to a third feature of the present invention which includesthe first or second feature (1) or (2), the component-holding portion ofthe connected feeder comprises a reel-holding portion which holds a reelaround which a tape carrying the circuit components is wound, andwherein the reel-holding portion is pendent from the main portion of theconnected feeder such that a whole of the reel is positioned below themain portion. All of the feeders employed in the present apparatus maybe ones each of which includes a main portion and a reel-holdingportion, or only one or more (not all) of the feeders may be one or oneseach of which includes a main portion and a reel-holding portion. In thelatter case, one or more feeders other than the feeder or feeders eachof which includes the main portion and the reel-holding portion may be,e.g., one or ones each of which arranges, by utilizing vibration, etc.,circuit components stored in its casing, into an array, and feeds thecomponents to its component-supply portion. All of the feeders each ofwhich includes the main portion and the reel-holding portion may bependent feeders each of which includes the main portion and thereel-holding portion pendent from the main portion, or only one or more(not all) of the feeders may be a pendent feeder or feeders. In thelatter case, one or more feeders other than the pendent feeder orfeeders may be, e.g., a known one or ones each of which includes a mainportion and a reel-holding portion which is connected in series to oneend portion of the main portion. The known feeder or feeders may beemployed for supplying circuit components of a particular sort which israrely supplied or which has a very small size, because the weight ofits or their reel-holding portion or portions and the circuit componentsheld thereby is low. In the case where the reel of the connected feederis entirely located below the main portion of the feeder, at least aportion of the reel-holding portion of the feeder overlaps the mainportion thereof in a component-feeding direction. Accordingly, theconnected feeder may have, in the component-feeding direction, adimension smaller than that of a known feeder whose main portion andreel-holding portion are connected to each other in series in thatdirection. Thus, the present apparatus can enjoy a highcomponent-supplying efficiency. When a tape carrying circuit componentshas been completely consumed on a feeder, the reel of the feeder, or thefeeder itself, should be replaced by another reel or feeder. To thisend, the operation of the apparatus must be stopped. Accordingly, inrecent years, it has been practiced to use a long tape for reducing thefrequency of the replacing or stopping operations and thereby improvingthe component-supplying efficiency. However, the longer the tape is, thegreater the size of the reel or the reel-holding portion should be.Thus, it is more difficult for feeders to be used with a circular table.As described above, in the known feeder, the component-supply portionthereof is provided by one of opposite end portions of the main portionthereof, and the reel-holding portion thereof is connected to the otherend portion of the main portion. The known feeder must be mounted on thecircular table, such that the component-supply portion thereof islocated along the outer peripheral portion of the table and thereel-holding portion is located on the side of the axis line of rotationof the table. Accordingly, in order to mount, on a circular table, afeeder having a great reel-holding portion capable of holding a reelhaving a great diameter, the circular table should also have a greatdiameter. In addition, generally, the reel-holding portion has a greaterwidth than that of the main portion. Since the feeders are mounted onthe circular table having an annular shape such that the reel-holdingportions of the feeders are located along the inner peripheral portionof the annular table, it is easy to provide a sufficient space betweeneach pair of adjacent main portions, whereas it is difficult to providea sufficient space between each pair of adjacent reel-holding portions.Thus, the maximum number of feeders that can be mounted on the circulartable is limited to a small number. Accordingly, the frequency of thereel or feeder replacing operations cannot be reduced and thecircuit-component supplying efficiency cannot be improved. An increasednumber of feeders can be mounted on a circular table having an increaseddiameter. In the last case, however, since the moment of inertia of thecircular table and the feeders held thereby is increased, theacceleration and deceleration at which the table is rotated should belowered for reducing the vibration produced thereby. Eventually, alonger time is needed for positioning each feeder, which leads tolowering the component supplying efficiency. In contrast, since thereel-holding portion of the connected feeder is pendent from the mainportion such that the reel is entirely positioned below the mainportion, the feeder can have a small dimension in the component-feedingdirection. Therefore, the rotary table can hold a number of feederswithout having to have a great diameter. Thus, the frequency of the reelor feeder replacing operations can be reduced, and the rotary table canbe rotated at high acceleration and deceleration. That is, the presentapparatus can enjoy a high component-supplying efficiency. In the casewhere the movable table is the linearly movable table that is linearlymovable, the present apparatus can have a small dimension in a directionperpendicular to the direction of movement of the linearly movabletable, because the feeder can have a small dimension in thecomponent-feeding direction. Thus, the present apparatus occupies asmall space only.

(4) According to a fourth feature of the present invention whichincludes any one of the first to third features (1) to (3), the feederscomprises a plurality of the connected feeders, and wherein theapparatus further comprises a component-holding-portion binder includinga plurality of engaging portions which are engaged with thecomponent-holding portions of the connected feeders, respectively, suchthat the component-holding-portion binder is substantially immovablerelative to the component-holding portions in the directionsubstantially parallel to the line. The component-holding-portion bindermay be one which simply binds the component-holding portions of theconnected feeders with each other, is held by the component-holdingportions, and prevents the component-holding portions from swingingindependent of each other. However, as described later, the binder maybe provided by a bucket which is attached by a binder attaching deviceto the movable table such that the bucket is movable relative to thetable. In this case, the weight of the binder is supported by themovable table, and accordingly the component-holding portion of eachconnected feeder does not have to be strong enough to support thebinder. Alternatively, at least a portion of the weight of thecomponent-holding portion may be supported by the binder. In eithercase, the component-holding portion and/or the connecting device can besimplified. When the movable table is moved, the component-holdingportions which are prevented by the binder from being moved relative toeach other are delayed together with each other from the correspondingmain portions. Thus, those component-holding portions are effectivelyprevented from individually moving relative to each other and therebycolliding with each other. Therefore, the generation of vibration andnoise is prevented.

(5) According to a fifth feature of the present invention which includesthe fourth feature (4), the circuit-component supplying apparatusfurther comprises a shock-absorbing following-causing device whichcauses the component-holding-portion binder to follow the movable tablebeing moved, while absorbing a shock produced by the binder followingthe table. The shock-absorbing following-causing device allows thecomponent-holding-portion binder to be delayed from the movable tableand causes the binder to follow the table being moved, while reducingthe vibration produced by the binder. Thus, the following-causing devicecauses the component-holding portions to follow the corresponding mainportions. That is, the component-holding portions follow thecorresponding main portions, while being delayed therefrom. Thefollowing-causing device causes the binder to follow the table, whilepreventing a great shock from being produced when the movement of thebinder is started or stopped. Therefore, the component-holding portionscan slowly and reliably follow the corresponding main portions,respectively.

(6) According to a sixth feature of the present invention which includesthe fifth feature (5), the shock-absorbing following-causing devicecomprises a delay-allowing and returning device which allows, when themovable table is accelerated, the component-holding-portion binder todelay from a reference phase thereof relative to the table, and whichreturns, when the acceleration of the table continues to be zero, thebinder to the reference phase thereof relative to the table. In thepresent apparatus, when the movable table is accelerated, thecomponent-holding-portion binder is delayed with the component-holdingportions, from the table, which leads to preventing a larger vibrationwhich would be produced if the binder and the component-holding portionsare moved at the same acceleration as that of the table. When theacceleration of the movable table continues to be zero in a state inwhich the table is stopped, or is moved at a constant speed, the binderis returned with the component-holding portions to its reference phaserelative to the table.

(7) According to a seventh feature of the present invention whichincludes the sixth feature (6), the delay-allowing and returning devicecomprises a biasing device which biases, between thecomponent-holding-portion binder and the movable table, the bindertoward the reference phase thereof relative to the table; and a dampingdevice which reduces a speed of the movement of the binder relative tothe table. In the present apparatus, the component-holding-portionbinder is returned to its reference phase relative to the movable table,by the biasing force of the biasing device. In addition, the dampingdevice lowers the speed of movement of the binder relative to the table.Thus, the vibration of the binder relative to the table is effectivelyattenuated. The damping device may be one which lowers the speed ofmovement of the binder relative to the table when the binder is returnedto its reference position relative to the table by the biasing force ofthe biasing device, as will be described in connection with thepreferred embodiments of the invention; or one which lowers the speed ofmovement of the binder relative to the table when the table isaccelerated and accordingly the binder is delayed from the table, aswill be also described in connection with the embodiments of theinvention. Moreover, in the case where the attenuating force of thedamping device increases as the amount of delaying of the binder fromthe table increases, the damping device prevents the generation of alarge shock and also functions as a stopping device which limits theamount of delaying of the binder from the table, i.e., defines themaximum delaying amount of the binder from the table. All thoseadvantages are possessed by the preferred embodiments of the invention,described later, wherein the damping effect and the delaying-amountlimiting effect, in particular, are exhibited irrespective of in whichdirection the table is rotated.

(8) According to an eighth feature of the present invention whichincludes any one of the fourth to seventh features (4) to (7), thecomponent-holding-portion binder comprises a bucket which opens upwardand which accommodates the respective component-holding portions of theconnected feeders. In this case, the component-holding portions of theconnected feeders are protected by the bucket and are prevented frombeing interfered with by the other elements.

(9) According to a ninth feature of the present invention which includesany one of the first to eighth features (1) to (8), the connectingdevice comprises at least one connecting member which extends in adirection substantially perpendicular to a direction in which themovable table is moved by the table-driving device; a first hinge devicewhich connects one of opposite end portions of the connecting member tothe main portion of the connected feeder, such that the connectingmember is pivotable about a first axis line which is perpendicular tothe direction of movement of the movable table; and a second hingedevice which connects the other end portion of the connecting member tothe component-holding portion of the connected feeder, such that theconnecting member is pivotable about a second axis line which isperpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable table andwhich is distant from the first axis line in the direction substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable table. Theconnecting device may be provided by an elastic or flexible member. Inthis case, the elastic deformation of the elastic member allows therelative movement of the main portion and the component-holding portion.However, the elastic member has the problem of fatigue failure. Incontrast, the connecting device in accordance with the ninth feature (9)is free from that problem. This connecting device has another advantagethat when the respective component-holding portions of a plurality ofconnected feeders are delayed from the corresponding main portions, eachpair of adjacent component-holding portions are prevented from beingmoved relative to each other in a direction parallel to the sidesurfaces of the component-holding portions.

(10) According to a tenth feature of the present invention whichincludes any one of the sixth to ninth features (6) to (9), thedelay-allowing and returning device comprises at least one connectingmember which extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to adirection in which the movable table is moved by the table-drivingdevice; a first hinge device which connects one of opposite end portionsof the connecting member to the movable table, such that the connectingmember is pivotable about a first axis line which is perpendicular tothe direction of movement of the movable table; and a second hingedevice which connects the other end portion of the connecting member tothe component-holding-portion holder, such that the connecting member ispivotable about a second axis line which is perpendicular to thedirection of movement of the movable table and which is distant from thefirst axis line in the direction substantially perpendicular to thedirection of movement of the movable table. When the movable table ismoved, the pivotal movement of the connecting member allows thecomponent-holding-portion binder to be delayed from the table, so thatthe binder is slightly moved up, like a pendulum, by the pivotalmovement of the connecting member. Thus, the binder stores a potentialenergy, which provides a force to return the binder to its referencephase relative to the table. Accordingly, without any biasing device orany damping device, the delay-allowing and returning device permits thebinder to delay from the table and causes the binder to follow the tableat a lower acceleration. Therefore, it is not essentially needed toemploy both the first combination of the connecting member and the hingedevices, and the second combination of the biasing device and thedamping device, though all of them are employed in the embodiments ofthe invention which will be described later. The delay-allowing andreturning device also functions as a binder attaching (or connecting)device which attaches (or connects) the binder to the table. Thedelay-allowing and returning device may, or may not, be used with thedelay-allowing and returning device in accordance with the seventhfeature (7), or vice versa. The delay-allowing and returning device isparticularly advantageous when it is used with the pendent feederincluding the connecting means in accordance with the ninth feature (9).In this case, when the movable table is moved, the component-holdingportion of the feeder and the component-holding-portion binder behavelike each other, with respect to both the direction of movement of thefeeder and the vertical direction, so that the relative movement of thecomponent-holding portion and the binder is reduced. In a particularcase where the connecting member of the delay-allowing and returningdevice has the same length as that of the connecting member of theconnecting device of the feeder, the component-holding portion and thebinder behave in the same manner, so that the relative movement of thecomponent-holding portion and the binder is zeroed. The presentcircuit-component supplying apparatus may employ an exclusive binderattaching (or connecting) device, in addition to the delay-allowing andreturning device. For example, the exclusive binder attaching device maybe provided by a pair of guide members which extend along a lineparallel to the direction of movement of the movable table and which areengaged with each other such that the two guide members are movablerelative to each other in a direction parallel to the line. One of thetwo guide members is fixed to the binder, and the other guide member isfixed to the table. The pair of guide members has the function ofallowing the binder to be delayed from the table, but does not have thefunction of returning the binder to its reference phase relative to thetable. Accordingly, a biasing device as a sort of returning device isemployed for returning the binder to its reference phase. In addition, adamping device may be employed for lowering the speed of movement of thebinder when it is returned to its reference phase.

(11) According to an eleventh feature of the present invention whichincludes any one of the first to tenth features (1) to (10), the mainportion of the connected feeder is elongate in a substantiallyhorizontal direction perpendicular to a direction in which the movabletable is moved by the table-driving device, and the connected feedercomprises a pendent feeder whose component-holding portion is pendentfrom an intermediate portion of the elongate main portion thereof. Inthis case, the main portion of the pendent feeder can have, in thecomponent-feeding direction, a dimension which is reduced by thedimension of the component-holding portion in the same direction. Thus,the present feeder enjoys a compact construction, which contributes toimproving the degree of freedom of designing of various peripheraldevices of the present apparatus.

(12) According to a twelfth feature of the present invention whichincludes the eleventh feature (11), the main portion of the pendentfeeder includes a held portion which is located on one side of theintermediate portion thereof and which is held by the movable table.

(13) According to a thirteenth feature of the present invention whichincludes the twelfth feature (12), the main portion of the pendentfeeder includes the component-supply portion thereof which is located onthe other side of the intermediate portion of the main portion and isdistant from the held portion of the main portion.

(14) According to a fourteenth feature of the present invention whichincludes any one of the first to thirteenth features (1) to (13), themovable table comprises a rotary table which is rotatable about a firstaxis line which is substantially vertical. The rotary table may be acircular table or a sectorial table. The main portion of the connectedfeeder may be held by the rotary table such that the component-supplyportion of the feeder is distant from, or near to, the first axis line,depending upon the manner in which the circuit component are picked upfrom the feeder. In the case where the movable table is the rotarytable, the present apparatus can have a more compact construction thanin the case where the movable table is the linearly movable table. Anapparatus employing the linearly movable table needs, in addition to aspace which is occupied by the table, a space in which the table ismoved. Thus, the linear-type apparatus needs at least two times as muchspace as that needed by the rotary-type apparatus. In addition, it canbe generally said that when the rotary table is rotated, the tablegenerates only the momentum about the axis line of rotation thereof.Therefore, the rotary-type apparatus produces less vibration than thelinear-type apparatus. Accordingly, the vibration of the floor on whichthe rotary-type apparatus is placed is reduced, which leads topreventing operators working on the floor from feeling discomfort andwhich leads to preventing other apparatuses placed on the same floor,from suffering problems which would otherwise be caused by thevibration, for example, lowered accuracy of positioning of a movablemember.

(15) According to a fifteenth feature of the present invention whichincludes the fourteenth feature (14), the main portion of the connectedfeeder is elongate in a substantially horizontal direction perpendicularto a direction in which the movable table is moved by the table-drivingdevice, and wherein the main portion includes a held portion which isnearer to the first axis line than the component-supply portion thereofand which is held by the movable table. In this case, the circuitcomponents are supplied from the component-supply portion locateddistant from the first axis line.

(16) According to a sixteenth feature of the present invention whichincludes the fourteenth or fifteenth feature (14) or (15), theconnecting device comprises relative-rotation allowing means forallowing the component-holding portion of the connected feeder to berotated relative to the main portion thereof about a second axis lineparallel to the first axis line. The connected feeder is held by therotary table which is rotatable about the first axis line and, when thetable is rotated and accordingly the component-holding portion is movedrelative to the main portion, a small difference is produced between theangular or rotation position of the component-holding portion and thatof the main portion about the first axis line. This difference increasesin an radially outward direction from the first axis line. Therelative-rotation allowing means allows the generation of thisdifference, thereby preventing the connecting device from being damaged.

(17) According to a seventeenth feature of the present invention whichincludes any one of the fourteenth to sixteenth features (14) to (16),the movable table comprises a rotary table which is rotatable about afirst axis line which is substantially vertical, and at least one of theconnecting member and the first and second hinge devices of thedelay-allowing and returning device comprises relative-rotation allowingmeans for allowing the component-holding-portion binder to be rotatedrelative to the rotary table, about a second axis line of the connectingmember parallel to the first axis line, when the binder is rotatedrelative to the table about the first axis line. Since the binder isattached to the table, a small difference is produced between therotation position of the binder and that of the table. However, therelative-rotation allowing means allows this difference, therebypreventing the connecting member from being damaged. Even if the bindermay not be attached to the table, a small difference is produced betweenthe rotation position of the binder and that of the main portions of thefeeders. Hence, it is preferable to employ relative-rotation allowingmeans for allowing the generation of the difference.

(18) According to an eighteenth feature of the present invention whichincludes the seventeenth feature (17), the connecting member comprises atorsion member which is elastically twistable about an axis line thereofas the second axis line, and which allows the component-holding portionof the connected feeder to be rotated relative to the main portionthereof about the second axis line. In the case where the connectingdevice of the connected feeder comprises the connecting member and thetwo hinge devices as described above, that connecting member may belikewise provided by a torsion member which is elastically twistableabout an axis line thereof parallel to the first axis line, and whichprovides relative-rotation allowing means for allowing thecomponent-holding portion to be rotated relative to the main portion.

(19) According to a nineteenth feature of the present invention whichincludes any one of the first to eighteenth features (1) to (18), theconnecting device comprises means for connecting the component-holdingportion of the connected feeder to the main portion thereof such thatthe component-holding portion is pivotable relative to the main portionabout an axis line perpendicular to a direction in which the movabletable is moved by the table-driving device. In the present apparatus,when the rotary table is rotated and accordingly the main portion of theconnected feeder is moved, the component-holding portion of the feederfeeder is rotated relative to the main portion, so that thecomponent-holding portion is delayed from the main portion. Thiscontributes to reducing the vibration of the present apparatus as awhole. Since the component-holding portion is connected to the mainportion such that the component-holding portion is pivotable about thesingle, second axis line, the connecting device enjoys a simpleconstruction. In the present apparatus, too, it is preferable to employa component-holding portion binder which binds the respectivecomponent-holding-portions of a plurality of connected feeders with eachother, so that the component-holding portions are prevented fromswinging independent of each other. However, in the present apparatus,when the component-holding portions are delayed from the main portions,each pair of adjacent component-holding portions are moved relative toeach other in a direction parallel to the side surfaces of thosecomponent-holding portions. Therefore, the component-holding portionbinder should be one which can bind the component-holding portions whileallowing each pair of adjacent component-holding portions to be movedrelative to each other in the direction parallel to the side surfacesthereof. For example, the binder may be provided by a highly flexiblemember formed of rubber or the like. In addition, it is possible tocover each of the respective contact (i.e., side) surfaces of thecomponent-holding portions with a cover member (e.g., a rubber member)having a friction coefficient higher than at least that of the materialof the component-holding portions. In this modified form, the swinging(vibration) of the component-holding portions is effectively attenuatedbecause of the friction between each pair of adjacent cover members. Thecomponent-holding-portion binder may be omitted, and each of the contactsurfaces of the component-holding portions may be provided with acushion member for reducing the noise generated when each pair ofadjacent component-holding portions collide with each other. In the casewhere the cushion members have a high friction coefficient, thosecushion members exhibit the effect of attenuating the swinging of thecomponent-holding portions.

(20) According to a twentieth feature of the present invention, there isprovided a feeder for storing a plurality of circuit components of asame sort and supplying the components one by one from acomponent-supply portion thereof, the feeder comprising a main portionwhich is adapted to be held by a movable table and which supports afeeding mechanism which feeds the circuit components one by is one tothe component-supply portion; a component-holding portion which holdsthe circuit components and from which the components are fed to the mainportion by the feeding mechanism; and a connecting device which connectsthe component-holding portion to the main portion such that theconnecting device allows a center of gravity of the component-holdingportion and the circuit components held thereby to be moved relative tothe main portion in a direction substantially parallel to a direction inwhich the movable table is moved. The present feeder is held by themovable table and, when the component-supply portion of the feeder ispositioned at a component-supplying position by the movement andstopping of the table, the component-holding portion and the circuitcomponents are delayed from the main portion, like the connected feederemployed in the circuit-component supplying apparatus in accordance withthe first feature (1). Thus, the component-holding portion and thecircuit components follow the main portion, at an acceleration and adeceleration lower than an acceleration and a deceleration of the mainportion, respectively. Thus, the present feeder contributes to reducingthe vibration generated by a circuit-component supplying apparatus, andthereby improving the circuit-component supplying efficiency orreliability of the apparatus.

(21) According to a twenty-first feature of the present invention whichincludes the twentieth feature (20), the main portion is elongate in adirection parallel to a direction in which the circuit components arefed by the feeding mechanism, and the component-holding portion ispendent from an intermediate portion of the elongate main portion.

(22) According to a twenty-second feature of the present invention whichincludes the twenty-first feature (21), the main portion includes a heldportion which is located on one side of the intermediate portion thereofand which is adapted to be held by the movable table.

(23) According to a twenty-third feature of the present invention whichincludes the twenty-second feature (22), the main portion includes thecomponent-supply portion which is located on the other side of theintermediate portion of the main portion and is distant from the heldportion of the main portion.

(24) According to a twenty-fourth feature of the present invention whichincludes any one of the twentieth to twenty-third feature (20) to (23),the connecting device comprises relative-rotation allowing means forallowing the component-holding portion to be rotated relative to themain portion about an axis line which is substantially vertical.

(25) According to a twenty-fifth feature of the present invention whichincludes any one of the twentieth to twenty-fourth feature (20) to (24),the connecting device comprises at least one connecting member whichextends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction inwhich the movable table is moved; a first hinge device which connectsone of opposite end portions of the connecting member to the mainportion, such that the connecting member is pivotable about a first axisline which is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movabletable; and a second hinge device which connects the other end portion ofthe connecting member to the component-holding portion, such that theconnecting member is pivotable about a second axis line which isperpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable table andwhich is distant from the first axis line in the direction substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable table. Theconnecting member is pivotable about the second axis line relative tothe main portion of the feeder, and is pivotable about the third axisline relative to the reel-holding portion of the same feeder. Thus, theconnecting member allows the component-holding portion to be paralleltranslated relative to the main portion. Meanwhile, the connectingdevice may be provided by an elastic or flexible member (e.g., a leafspring positioned in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movementof the table) which extends in the direction substantially perpendicularto the direction of movement of the table. In this case, the elasticdeformation of the elastic member allows the relative movement of themain portion and the component-holding portion. However, the elasticmember has the problem of fatigue failure. In contrast, this connectingdevice is free from that problem.

(26) According to a twenty-sixth feature of the present invention whichincludes the twenty-fifth feature (25), the connecting member comprisesa torsion member which is elastically twistable about a lengthwise axisline thereof, and which allows the component-holding portion to berotated relative to the main portion about an axis line which issubstantially vertical.

(27) According to a twenty-seventh feature of the present invention,there is provided a method of supplying circuit components, comprisingthe steps of moving a movable table along a line, the movable tableholding a plurality of feeders such that respective component-supplyportions of the feeders are arranged along the line, each of the feedersstoring a plurality of circuit components of a same sort and supplyingthe components one by one from the component-supply portion thereof, atleast one of the feeders comprising a main portion which is held by themovable table and which supports a feeding mechanism which feeds thecircuit components one by one to the component-supply portion thereof,and a component-holding portion which holds the circuit components andfrom which the components are fed to the main portion by the feedingmechanism, wherein a center of gravity of the component-holding portionand the circuit components held thereby is movable relative to the mainportion in a direction substantially parallel to a direction in whichthe main portion is moved by the movement of the movable table, andintermittently stopping the movable table and thereby sequentiallypositioning the component-supply portion of each of the feeders at apredetermined component-supplying position where the each feedersupplies at least one circuit component from the component-supplyportion thereof, wherein when the movable table is moved, thecomponent-holding portion and the circuit components are moved at anacceleration and a deceleration which are lower than an acceleration anda deceleration, respectively, at which the main portion is moved. Theexplanations made in connection with the circuit-component supplyingapparatus in accordance with the first feature (1) are also true withthe present circuit-component supplying method. In short, the presentmethod assures that circuit components are supplied with high efficiencyand/or with high reliability. The present circuit-component supplyingmethod may employ one or more of the first to nineteenth features (1) to(19) of the circuit-component supplying apparatus.

(28) According to a twenty-eighth feature of the present invention,there is provided a circuit-component mounting system comprising thecircuit-component supplying apparatus in accordance with the firstfeature (1); a circuit-substrate supporting device which supports acircuit substrate; and a circuit-component mounting device whichreceives the circuit components supplied by the circuit-componentsupplying apparatus and mounts the components on the circuit substratesupported by the circuit-substrate supporting device. The present systemis very advantageous if it employs the circuit-component mounting devicein accordance with the twenty-ninth feature (29) described below.However, the present system may employ a circuit-component mountingdevice of a type which includes one or more component-mounting heads anda movable member which supports the component-mounting head or heads andwhich is movable to any desired position in one direction, or in each oftwo directions perpendicular to each other, in a horizontal plane. Thelatter mounting device may also be so required, for the purpose of,e.g., improving its component-mounting efficiency, that the or eachmounting head be able to receive the components at a predeterminedposition. In particular, in the case where the latter mounting device isprovided by the former mounting device of a type wherein thehead-revolving device thereof is supported on a movable member which ismovable to any desired position in one direction, or in each of twodirections perpendicular to each other, in a horizontal plane, it ispreferred that each of the component-mounting or -holding heads be ableto receive circuit components at a predetermined position.

(29) According to a twenty-ninth feature of the present invention whichincludes the twenty-eighth feature (28), the circuit-component mountingdevice comprises a plurality of component-holding heads which arerevolveable about an axis line which is inclined with respect to ahorizontal plane, and a head-revolving device which revolves thecomponent-holding heads about the axis line and sequentially stops theheads at a predetermined component-mounting position, and wherein thecircuit-substrate supporting device comprises a circuit-substratesupporting member which supports the circuit substrate, and asupporting-member moving device which moves the circuit-substratesupporting member to a desired position on a substantially horizontalplane. The head-revolving device may be one which includes (a) aplurality of rotary members which supports the plurality ofcomponent-holding heads, respectively, and which are rotatable about acommon axis line, and (b) a rotation-causing device which causes therotary members to rotate about the common axis line in such a mannerthat each of the rotary members is stopped at least one time during itsfull (360 degrees) rotation and such that a predetermined timedifference is maintained between each pair of angularly adjacent rotarymembers. This head-revolving device will be described in connection withthe preferred embodiments of the invention. Alternatively, thehead-revolving device may be one which includes (a) anintermittent-rotation body which is intermittently rotatable about anaxis line and which supports the plurality of component-holding headssuch that the heads are equiangularly spaced from each other about theaxis line, and (b) a driving device which intermittently rotates therotation body. In the latter case, the driving device may be one whichcan intermittently rotate the rotation body by a predetermined angularpitch in a predetermined direction, or one which can rotate and stop therotation body by any desired angle in any desired direction. Moreover,in the case where the plurality of component-holding heads are supportedon a rotatable body which is rotatable about an axis line, the centralangle contained by one pair of angularly adjacent heads may be differentfrom that of another or other pairs of adjacent heads.

(30) According to a thirtieth feature of the present invention whichincludes the twenty-eighth or twenty-ninth feature (28) or (29), thecomponent-holding portion of the connected feeder comprises areel-holding portion which holds, at a position below thecircuit-substrate supporting device, a reel around which a tape carryingthe circuit components is wound. The circuit-substrate supporting deviceis disposed at a height position suitable for the mounting of componentsin relation with the component mounting device. Thus, a vacant space maybe left under the supporting device, and the reel-holding portion of theconnected feeder may be positioned in that space. That is, a portion ofthe component supplying device may overlap the substrate supportingdevice in a horizontal direction. Thus, the present system enjoys acompact construction. In the case where the main portion of theconnected feeder is held at a position higher than that of thecircuit-substrate supporting device and, when the components aremounted, the circuit substrate is moved into a space between the mainportion and the reel-holding portion, as will be described in connectionwith the embodiments of the invention, the circuit-component mountingsystem enjoys a more compact construction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and optional objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be better understood by reading the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments of the invention whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly cross-sectioned, side elevation view of acircuit-component (“CC”) mounting system including a rotary-type CCsupplying apparatus to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the CC mounting system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partly cross-sectioned, side elevation view of a CC mountingdevice of the CC mounting system of FIG. 1, and a portion of the CCsupplying apparatus of the same;

FIG. 4 is a time chart representing a relationship between time, T, andthe angle of rotation of each of fifteen rotary plates of the CCmounting device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a main portion of a CC feeder of theCC supplying apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a portion of a circular table of the CCsupplying apparatus of FIG. 1, with the CC feeders being held by thetable;

FIG. 7 is a partly cross-sectioned, side elevation view of the CC feederand a portion of the circular table;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of a connecting device which connectsbetween the main portion and a reel-holding portion of the CC feeder;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectioned, side elevation view of a portion of themain portion of the CC feeder in which a guide groove for guiding a CCcarrier tape is provided;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of an attaching device which attachesa bucket supporting the reel-holding portion of the CC feeder to thecircular table, and a binder delay-and-return device;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectioned, front elevation view of a shock absorberof the binder delay-and-return device;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view of a relevant portion of a control deviceof the CC mounting system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a graph showing an ideal relationship between time and theangle of rotation of the circular table and an ideal relationshipbetween time and the angle of rotation of the bucket;

FIG. 14 is a partly cross-sectioned, side elevation view of another CCmounting system including a different rotary-type CC supplying apparatusto which the present invention is also applied;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the CC mounting system of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic view of a relevant portion of a control deviceof the CC mounting system of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating one of three CC-supply modes of the CCsupplying apparatus of FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating the other two CC-supply modes of the CCsupplying apparatus of FIG. 14;

FIG. 19 is a front elevation view of tape guide members employed in a CCfeeder employed in another rotary-type CC supplying apparatus as a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a plan view of one of the guide members of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a partly cross-sectioned, schematic front elevation view of abinder delay-and-return device employed in another rotary-type CCsupplying apparatus as a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectioned, schematic front elevation view of abinder-attaching device which attaches a bucket as a binder to acircular table in another rotation-type CC supplying apparatus as afifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a side elevation view of CC feeders employed in anotherrotary-type CC supplying apparatus as a sixth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 24 is a side elevation view illustrating the state in whichrespective reel-holding portions of the CC feeders of FIG. 23 arepivoted relative to corresponding main portions of the feeders;

FIG. 25 is a side elevation view illustrating the state in whichrespective reel-holding portions of CC feeders employed in anotherrotary-type CC supplying apparatus as a seventh embodiment of thepresent invention are bound by a reel-holding-portion binder;

FIG. 26 is a partly-cross-sectioned, front elevation view of thereel-holding-portion binder of FIG. 25 which is engaged with each of thereel-holding portions; and

FIG. 27 is a side elevation view illustrating the state in which thereel-holding portions of the CC feeders of FIG. 25 are pivoted relativeto corresponding main portions of the feeders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 13, there will be described acircuit-component (“CC”) mounting system 8 which embodies a CC mountingsystem of the present invention. The CC mounting system 8 includes arotary-type CC supplying apparatus 12 which embodies a CC supplyingapparatus of the present invention and carries out a CC supplying methodof the present invention. The CC supplying apparatus 12 includes aplurality of CC feeders 200 each of which embodies a CC feeder of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present CC supplying system 8 includes,in addition to the rotation-type CC supplying apparatus 12 provided on abase member 10, a CC mounting device 14 and a printed-circuit-board(“PCB”) carrying device 16 both of which are also provided on the basemember 10.

The PCB carrying device 16 includes a PCB positioning and supporting(“position-support”) device 22 which positions and supports a PCB 20 asa sort of circuit substrate; a PCB carry-in device 24 which carries inthe PCB 20 and transfers it to the PCB position-support device 22; and aPCB carry-out device 26 which carries out the PCB 20 from the device 22.The PCB carrying device 16 is substantially entirety provided below theCC mounting device 14.

Each of the PCB carry-in and carry-out devices 24, 26 includes a pair ofendless conveyor belts (not shown) each as a PCB carrying member, and adrive device which includes a belt-driving motor 28 (FIG. 12) as itsdrive source and which drives the conveyor belts for carrying the PCB 20placed thereon. The PCB 20 is carried in a direction from the right-handcarry-in device 24 to the left-hand carry-out device 26 in FIG. 2.Hereinafter, this direction may be referred to as the “PCB-carryingdirection”, or the “X-axis direction”, if appropriate.

The PCB position-support device 22 includes an X table 36 which isprovided on the base member 10 such that the X table 36 is movable toand fro in the X-axis direction; a Y table 38 which is provided on the Xtable 36 such that the Y table 38 is movable to and fro in a Y-axisdirection perpendicular to the X-axis direction in a horizontal plane;and a PCB support table 40 which is provided on the Y table 38 such thatthe PCB support table 40 is movable up and down.

On the PCB support table 40, there are provided a PCB carry-in andcarry-out device and a PCB holding device (all not shown) of the PCBposition-support device 22. The PCB carry-in and carry-out deviceincludes a pair of endless conveyor belts each as a PCB carrying member,and a drive device which includes a belt-driving motor 44 (FIG. 12) asits drive source and which drives the conveyor belts for carrying thePCB 20 in the X-axis direction.

The PCB position-support device 22 additionally includes an elevatingand lowering device 46 which elevates and lowers the PCB support table40 between its uppermost position indicated in two-dot chain line inFIG. 1 and its lowermost position indicated in solid line in the figure.In the state in which the table 40 is positioned at its uppermostposition, a PCB-carrying plane defined by respective upper surfaces ofthe respective upper half portions of the two endless belts of the PCBcarry-in and carry-out device provided on the table 40 is flush with aPCB-carrying plane defined by respective upper surfaces of therespective upper half portions of the two endless belts of each of thePCB carry-in and carry-out devices 24, 26. In the state in which thetable 40 is positioned at its lowermost position, the PCB 20 placed onthe PCB-carrying plane is positioned below the CC mounting device 14.

The PCB 20 is transferred from the PCB carry-in device 24 to the PCBposition-support device 22, or from the device 22 to the PCB carry-outdevice 26, in the state in which the PCB support table 40 is positionedat its uppermost position. The PCB 20 carried in onto the table 40 isheld by the PCB holding device. When circuit components (CCs) aremounted on the PCB 20 by the CC mounting device 14, the table 40 islowered to its lowermost position.

Two nuts (not shown) are fixed to the X and Y tables 36, 38,respectively, and are engaged with two feeding screws 52, respectively.However, FIG. 1 shows only one feeding screw 52 for moving the Y table38 in the Y-axis direction. The two feeding screws 52 are rotated by twotable-driving servomotors 54, 56 (FIG. 12), respectively. Thus, the Xand Y tables 36, 38 are moved in the X-axis and Y-axis directions,respectively, while being guided by respective linear guide members (notshown). Accordingly, the PCB support table 40 can be moved to anyposition in the horizontal plane. A portion of the X table 36 extendsbelow the CC mounting device 14 and, as shown in FIG. 1, the table 40can be moved to an area below the CC mounting device 14. That is, aportion of the range within which the table 40 is movable overlaps theCC mounting device 14 in a horizontal direction. Hereinafter, theposition where the table 40 is present between the PCB carry-in andcarry-out devices 24, 26 in the X-axis direction and is aligned with thetwo devices 24, 26 in the Y-axis direction will be referred to as theoriginal position (i.e., origin) of the table 40 in the horizontalplane.

Next, the CC mounting device 14 will be described.

The CC mounting device 14 is similar to a CC mounting device disclosedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/907,882 assigned to the Assigneeof the present U.S. application. Hence, the device 14 is describedbriefly.

The CC mounting device 14 includes fifteen rotary plates 60 which arerotatable about a vertical common axis line, independent of one another;fifteen CC-holding heads 64 which are supported by the fifteen rotaryplates 60, respectively, and each of which can hold a CC 150 (FIG. 5);and a rotary-motion applying device 66 which applies, to each of therotary plates 60, a rotary motion which causes each rotary plate 60 torotate fully about the common axis line while stopping three timesduring each full rotation and keeping a predetermined time differencefrom each of its adjacent two rotary plates 60, i.e., its preceding andfollowing rotary plates 60.

The CC mounting device 14 includes, as its main members, a frame member68 which is provided above the base member 10, and a support plate 69which is provided below the frame member 68 and is fixed to the basemember 10. As shown in FIG. 3, a vertical support shaft 70 is fixed tothe frame member 68 and the support plate 69. Two groups of bearings 72are attached to two portions of the support shaft 70, respectively,which are distant from each other in an axial direction of the shaft 70.Each group of bearings 72 consists of fifteen bearings 74 which havedifferent axial positions, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, the fifteenrotary plates 60 are associated with respective pairs of support arms 76fixed thereto. Each pair of support arms 76 are fixed to, and supportedby, the corresponding pair of bearings 74 which belong to the twobearing groups 72, respectively, so that each rotary plate 60 isrotatable about the support shaft 70 whose center axis line coincideswith the common axis line of the rotary plates 60. All the pairs ofbearings 74 corresponding to the respective pairs of support arms 76 ofthe fifteen rotary plates 60 have the same distance therebetween in theaxial direction of the support shaft 70. However, the fifteen pairs ofsupport arms 76 have different axial positions at which the arms 76 arefixed to the respective rotary plates 60. Accordingly, the fifteen pairsof support arms 76 do not interfere with one another, even though therotary plates 60 are supported by the support shaft 70 such that therotary plates 60 are rotatable at the same position with respect to theaxial direction of the support shaft 70.

The fifteen rotary plates 60 have respective cam followers 84 at thesame position with respect to the axial direction of the support shaft70. Accordingly, the fifteen cam followers 84 are moved on a circlewhose center rides on the common axis line of the rotary plates 60. Eachcam follower 84 includes a large-diameter roller 86 and a small-diameterroller 88 which are attached to the corresponding rotary plate 60 suchthat the two rollers 86, 88 are rotatable, independent of each other,about a common axis line perpendicular to the common axis line of therotary plates 60. The two rollers 86, 88 of each cam follower 84 areheld in rolling engagement with respective cam grooves formed in fourconcave globoidal cams 90 a, 90 b, 90 c, 90 d (FIG. 2) which arerotatably attached to the frame member 68. The drawings show therespective cam grooves 92 b, 92 d of the globoidal cams 90 b, 90 d butdo not show the respective cam grooves of the globoidal cams 90 a, 90 c.FIG. 2 shows the fifteen rotary plates 60 as positioned relative to oneanother such that the rotary plates 60 are evenly or equi-angularlyspaced apart from each other about the support shaft 70, for only theinterest of simplification. In fact, the angular or phase difference ofone pair of adjacent rotary plates 60 may differ from that of anotherpair of adjacent rotary plates 60 for the reasons which will bedescribed later by reference to FIG. 4.

Each of the four concave globoidal cams 90 a-90 d has an outercircumferential surface defined by a locus which is described by acircular arc whose center rides on the center axis line of the supportshaft 70 when the circular arc is rotated about an axis line which islocated such that the circular arc is interposed between this axis lineand the center axis line of the support shaft 70 and which isperpendicular to the axis line of the shaft 70. The axis line aboutwhich the circular arc is rotated to describe the above-indicated locusis an axis line of a rotary shaft 98 a, 98 b, 98 d of each globoidal cam90 a-90 d (the rotary shaft of the cam 90 c is not shown). The fourconcave globoidal cams 90 a-90 d are disposed symmetrically with respectto the center axis line of the support shaft 70, such that respectiveinner lines of intersection of the outer circumferential surfaces of thecams 90 a-90 d with a plane including the axis lines of the cams 90 a-90d and perpendicular to the center axis line of the support shaft 70cooperate with one another to define a substantially continuous circlewhose center rides on the axis line of the center support shaft 70. Thefour cam grooves 92 formed in the outer circumferential surfaces of thefour cams 90 a-90 d are substantially connected to each other.

Each of the respective cam grooves 92 (92 b, 92 d) of the four globoidalcams 90 a-90 d is a stepped cam groove including a wide groove 94, and anarrow groove 96 which opens in the bottom of the wide groove 94. Thelarge-diameter and small-diameter rollers 86, 88 of the cam follower 84of each rotary plate 60 are held in rolling engagement with the wide andnarrow grooves 94, 96 of the cam groove 92 of each of the cams 90 a-90d, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows that each of the respective rotary shafts 98 a, 98 d of thegloboidal cams 90 a, 90 d has two bevel gears fixed thereto and each ofthe respective rotary shafts 98 b of the globoidal cams 90 b, 90 c (therotary shaft of the cam 90 c is not shown) has a single bevel gear fixedto one end thereof. Each pair of adjacent bevel gears (three pairs intotal) are held in meshing engagement with each other. When the rotaryshaft 98 a of the globoidal cam 90 a is rotated by a main servomotor 100(FIG. 2), the four globoidal cams 90 a-90 d are contemporaneouslyrotated in synchronism with each other, so that the fifteen rotaryplates 60 are rotated about the support shaft 70, and are sequentiallystopped, as described below.

Each rotary plate 60 is stopped at a CC sucking position, a CC-imagetaking position, and a CC mounting position. The CC sucking positionwhich is prescribed adjacent to the rotary-type CC supplying apparatus12, and the globoidal cam 90 d is provided, on the frame member 68, at aposition corresponding to the CC sucking position. The CC mountingposition is prescribed adjacent to the PCB carrying device 16, and thegloboidal cam 90 b is provided, on the frame member 68, at a positioncorresponding to the CC mounting position. The CC-image taking positionis prescribed midway on a route from the CC sucking position to the CCmounting position, and the globoidal cam 90 a is provided, on the framemember 68, at a position corresponding to the CC-image taking position.A CC-image taking device 102 (FIG. 12) including a lighting device and aCCD (charge-coupled device) camera is provided, on the base member 10,at a position corresponding to the CC-image taking position.

The cam groove 92 of each of the globoidal cams 90 a, 90 b, 90 dincludes an inclined portion having a lead angle with respect to a planeperpendicular to the axis line of the rotary shaft 98 of the each cam 90a, 90 b, 90 d, and additionally includes a non-lead portionperpendicular to that axis line so that each of the rotary plates 60 (oreach of the cam followers 84) is held stopped at the CC-image takingposition, the CC mounting position, and the CC sucking position. Theinclined portion of the groove 92 of each cam 90 a, 90 b, 90 d includesstraight and curved sections which are so shaped as to first rotate eachrotary plate 60 at a predetermined constant angular velocity, thenaccelerate the same 60 for moving it over more distance or angle,decelerate it, stop it at one of the three stop positions, resume therotation of each plate 60, accelerate it for moving it over more angle,decelerate it, and then move it at the constant velocity. The cam grooveof the globoidal cam 90 c has only a straight inclined portion having alead angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis line of therotary shaft of the cam 90 c. This lead angle is predetermined to permiteach rotary plate 60 to be rotated at the above-indicated constantangular velocity.

The respective cam grooves 92 of the globoidal cams 90 a, 90 b, 90 d areformed so that three of the fifteen rotary plates 60 are stopped at thethree stop positions, respectively, at different timings which differfrom one another by about one third of a time pitch at which the fifteenrotary plates 60 (or the fifteen CC-holding heads 64) reach one afteranother at each of the three stop positions. The respective inclinedportions (both the straight and curved sections) of the respective camgrooves 92 of the globoidal cams 90 a, 90 b, 90 d have the same degreeof inclination, so that each rotary plate 60 is rotated at the sameconstant angular velocity, and accelerated and decelerated at the samevalues by the three cams 90 a, 90 b, 90 d. However, the respectivelengths of the two straight sections (which respectively precede andfollow the curved section) of the inclined portion of each one of thecam grooves 92 of the three cams 90 a, 90 b, 90 d differ from those ofeach of the other two cam grooves 92. Therefore, the time needed foreach rotary plate 60 to move from the CC sucking position to theCC-image taking position differs from that for the same 60 to move fromthe CC-image taking position to the CC mounting position. The degree ofinclination of the straight inclined portion of the cam groove 92 of thegloboidal cam 92 c is equal to that of the straight sections of theinclined portion of the cam groove 92 of each of the other three cams 90a, 90 b, 90 d, so that each rotary plate 60 is rotated by the cam 90 cat the same constant angular velocity as that at which the same 60 isrotated by the cams 90 a, 90 b, 90 d.

FIG. 4 shows a timing chart which represents a relationship between timeand the angle of rotation of each of the fifteen rotary plates 60. InFIG. 4, the symbol “T” indicates the time needed for each rotary plate60 to be rotated through 360 degrees, and this time is taken along theaxis of abscissa, with a graduation unit being equal to T/15 in view ofthe fifteen rotary plates 60 in total. On the other hand, the angle ofrotation of each rotary plate 60 is taken along the axis of ordinate,with a graduation unit being equal to 360/13 in view of designedthirteen stations including three stations corresponding to the threestop positions. In the present embodiment, each rotary plate 60 stops atthe three stations but passes through the other ten stations. Thetime-angle relationship of each rotary plate 60 is expressed by a lineincluding a straight portion, an upwardly curved or convex portion, anda downwardly curved or concave portion. The straight portion indicatesthe constant-velocity movement of the rotary plate 60; the convexportion indicates the deceleration of the rotary plate 60; and theconcave portion indicates the acceleration of the rotary plate 60.

The timing chart of FIG. 4 shows that arbitrary three of the fifteenrotary plates 60 are stopped at the CC sucking position, the CC-imagetaking position, and the CC mounting position, respectively, atrespective different timings which differ from one another by about onethird of the time pitch at which the fifteen rotary plates 60 arrive oneafter another at each of the three stop positions. Therefore, arbitrarythree of the fifteen rotary plates 60 are accelerated or decelerated atrespective different timings before, and after, being stopped at thethree stop positions, respectively. Accordingly, the total load ortorque applied to the main servomotor 100 is reduced, and the fourgloboidal cams 90 a-90 d can be driven by the motor 100 which has asmall capacity or low performance.

The respective cam grooves 92 of each pair of adjacent globoidal cams 90(90 a, 90 b, 90 c, 90 d) are connected to each other at respectivepredetermined angular phases of the two cams 90, so that the camfollower 84 of each rotary plate 60 can be moved from one of the twocams 90 to the other cam 90. Thus, each plate 60 can be rotated through360 degrees. Each cam follower 84 includes the large-diameter andsmall-diameter rollers 86, 88, and the large roller 86 slightly earlierreaches the interface of the two cam grooves 92 than the small roller88. In the state in which the large roller 86 has just reached theinterface, the large roller 86 is not sandwiched between the opposedside walls of either of the respective wide grooves 94 of the two camgrooves 92. However, the small roller 88 remains sandwiched between theopposed side walls of the narrow groove 96 of the cam groove 92 of theone cam 90. Accordingly, the large roller 86 can smoothly transfer fromthe one cam 90 to the other cam 90. When the small roller 88 reaches theinterface of the two cam grooves 92, the large roller 86 has alreadybeen sandwiched between the opposed side walls of the wide groove 94 ofthe cam groove 92 of the other cam 90. Thus, the smaller roller 88 cansmoothly transfer from the one cam 90 to the other cam 90.

As shown in FIG. 3, each CC-holding head 64 is supported by an elevatormember 124 as a movable member which is attached to the correspondingrotary plate 60 such that the elevator member 124 is movable up anddown. Two cam-follower rollers 126 are attached to each elevator member124 such that each of the two rollers 126 is rotatable about an axisline perpendicular to the common axis line of the rotary plates 60. Thetwo cam-follower rollers 126 of each elevator member 124 are held inrolling engagement with a cam groove 130 formed in an innercircumferential surface of a stationary cam 128 fixed to the framemember 68. The inner circumferential surface of the stationary cam 128has its center line coinciding with the center axis line of the supportshaft 70. The cam groove 130 includes a height-position varying portionwhose height position (in the axial direction of the shaft 70)continuously varies in the circumferential direction of the cam 128, anda level portion whose height position does not vary. The cam groove 130is formed so that each CC-holding head 64 takes its uppermost positionwhen the corresponding rotary plate 60 is positioned at the CC suckingposition and takes its lowermost position when the rotary plate 60 ispositioned at the CC mounting position and so that each head 64 is movedin a horizontal plane while the rotary plate 60 is rotated around eachof the CC sucking, CC-image taking, and CC mounting positions.Accordingly, when the camfollower rollers 126 of each rotary plate 60 ismoved in rolling engagement with each height-position varying portion ofthe cam groove 130, the elevator member 124 is moved up and down andaccordingly the CC-holding head 64 is moved up and down. The maximumdistance between the outer circumferential surface of one of the tworollers 126 and that of the other roller 126 as measured in the axialdirection of the support shaft 70 is slightly greater than the width ofthe cam groove 130 (i.e., dimension as measured in the axial directionof the shaft 70). Thus, the two rollers 126 are held in pressed contactwith the upper and lower walls of the cam groove 130, respectively, sothat the rollers 126 can smoothly move in the groove 130 withoutproducing vibration.

Each CC-holding head 64 includes a nozzle holder 140 which is supportedby the elevator member 124 such that the nozzle holder 140 is rotatableabout a vertical axis line and a horizontal axis line; and sixCC-suction nozzles 146 (only two nozzles 146 are shown in FIG. 3) whichare held by the nozzle holder 140 such that the six nozzles 146 areequi-angularly spaced from one another about the horizontal axis line ofthe holder 140. When the nozzle holder 140 is rotated about itshorizontal axis line by a nozzle selecting device including, as itsdrive source, a nozzle selecting/rotating servomotor 148 mounted on theelevator member 124, an appropriate one of the six nozzles 146 isselected and positioned at an operative position where the selectednozzle 146 is oriented vertically downward. In addition, when the nozzleholder 140 is rotated about its vertical axis by a nozzle rotatingdevice including, as its drive source, the nozzle selecting/rotatingservomotor 148, the nozzle 146 positioned at the operative position isrotated about its own axis line by an appropriate angle to correct anangular-position error of the CC 150 (FIG. 5) held by the nozzle 146.The angular-position error of the CC 150 means the difference of acurrent angular position of the CC 150 held by the selected nozzle 146as measured from a reference angular position of the same 150 asmeasured in a circumferential direction of the nozzle 146.

The correction of the angular-position error of the CC 150 is performedduring a time duration when each rotary plate 60 is moved from theCC-image taking position to the CC mounting position. The changedangular position of the selected nozzle 146 is returned to its originalposition before the correction of the angular-position error of the CC150, during a time duration when the rotary plate 60 is moved from theCC mounting position to the CC sucking position after the CC 150 ismounted on the PCB 20. Simultaneously, the current nozzle 146 is changedto another nozzle 146, as needed.

At two locations on the frame member 68 which correspond to the CCsucking and mounting positions, respectively, there are disposed twohead elevating and lowering devices (not shown) including respectivevertically movable members. The stationary cam 128 has two receivinggrooves formed at two positions corresponding to the CC sucking andmounting positions, respectively. The two vertically movable members arefit or received in the two receiving grooves, respectively, such thateach of the movable members is movable vertically up and down. Eachvertically movable member has a horizontal groove which defines part ofthe cam groove 130 of the stationary cam 128 in a state in which themovable member is positioned at its uppermost position and is receivedin the corresponding receiving groove of the cam 128.

Each head elevating and lowering device additionally includes a drivingdevice which elevates and lowers the corresponding vertically movablemember. Each driving device has a motion converting mechanism includinga cam and a cam follower, and utilizes the main servomotor 100 as itsdrive source in such a manner that the motion converting device convertsthe rotation of the servomotor 100 into the upward and downward movementof the corresponding movable member. Each head elevating and loweringdevice additionally includes a stroke-changing device which can changethe stroke of upward and downward movement of the corresponding movablemember, i.e., the corresponding CC-holding head 64, based on, e.g., theheight of the CC 150 to be mounted.

When each rotary plate 60 is rotated to arrive at the CC suckingposition, the cam-follower rollers 126 of the CC-holding head 64 of therotary plate 60 are moved into the horizontal groove of the verticalmovable member of the head elevating and lowering device disposed at theposition corresponding to the CC sucking position. Subsequently, themovable member is moved vertically downward and then upward, so that theelevator member 124 of the head 64 is moved down and up. Thus, the head64 picks up the CC 150 from the rotary-type CC supplying apparatus 12.Similarly, when each rotary plate 60 is rotated to arrive at the CCmounting position, the cam-follower rollers 126 of the CC-holding head64 are moved into the horizontal groove of the vertical movable memberof the other head elevating and lowering device disposed at the positioncorresponding to the CC mounting position. Subsequently, the movablemember is moved vertically downward and then upward, so that theelevator member 124 of the head 64 is moved down and up. Thus, the head64 mounts the CC 150 on the PCB 20 supported by the CC carrying device16. A switching device 160 which is provided on each CC-holding head 64is mechanically switchable to supply a negative pressure to, and cut thesame from, the selected nozzle 146. Two switching-device operatingdevices (not shown) are provided at two locations of the main member ofthe CC mounting device 14 which correspond to the CC sucking andmounting positions, respectively. Each switching-device operating devicemechanically operates or switches the corresponding switching device 160when the corresponding CC-holding head 64 is moved down and up. Eachswitching device 160 is supplied with the negative pressure from avacuum source (not shown) via a hose, a rotary valve, etc. (all notshown). The nozzle selecting/rotating servomotor 148 is supplied withelectric power from a power source (not shown) via a non-contact-typeelectric-power supplying device (not shown).

Next, the rotary-type CC supplying apparatus 12 will be described. Asshown in FIG. 1, the CC supplying apparatus 12 includes a plurality ofCC feeders 200, a full-circular table 202 as a rotary table which holdsthe CC feeders 200, and a table driving device 204 which rotates thecircular table 202. The circular table 202 includes a cylindricalportion 208, and an annular portion 210 which extend radially outwardfrom an upper half portion of the cylindrical portion 208. Thecylindrical portion 208 is attached via bearings 214 to an upper portionof a vertical support shaft 212 fixed to the base member 10, so that thecircular table 202 is rotatable about a vertical axis. Thus, the annularportion 210 extends radially outward from an upper end portion of thesupport shaft 212.

A driven gear 218 is fixed to a lower end portion of the cylindricalportion 208, such that the driven gear 218 is opposite to the annularportion 210. The circular table 202 receives the rotation which isproduced by a table-rotating servomotor 220 and whose speed is reducedby gears 222, 224, 226, 228, 230 and the driven gear 218. A controldevice 520 (FIG. 12) controls the servomotor 220 to rotate the circulartable 202 to a desirable angular position at a desirable angularvelocity, so that a CC-supply portion of a desirable one of the CCfeeders 200 held by the table 202 is positioned at a predetermined CCsupplying position right below the CC sucking position at which eachCC-holding head 64 is stopped. The driven gear 218, the servomotor 220,the gears 222-230, and the control device 520 cooperate with one anotherto provide the table-driving device 204.

Next, the CC feeders 200 will be described.

Each of the CC feeders 200 stores a plurality of CCs 150 of a same sortand supplies the CCs 150 one by one from the CC-supply portion thereof.As shown in FIG. 5, each CC feeder 200 feeds a CC carrier tape 242 whichconsists of an embossed-type CC-accommodating tape 244 having a numberof CC-accommodating pockets embossed at a regular interval of distancein a lengthwise direction thereof; a number of CCs 150 which areaccommodated in the CC-accommodating pockets, respectively; and a covertape 246 which covers respective upper openings of the CC-accommodatingpockets.

Each CC feeder 200 includes a main portion 254 which consists of a mainmember 250 having a generally elongate, plate-like configuration, and atape feeding mechanism 252 which is supported by the main member 250 andwhich feeds the CC carrier tape 242 such that the CCs 150 carried on thetape 242 are fed one by one to the CC-supply portion of the main member250. The tape feeding mechanism 252 simultaneously feeds the carriertape 242 and moves a cover member 256 frontward. However, when thefeeding mechanism 252 moves the cover member 256 rearward, the feedingmechanism 252 does not move the tape 242 and prepares for the nextfeeding of the tape 242. More specifically described, the feedingmechanism 252 causes a ratchet pawl 258 (FIG. 5) to move over the teethof a ratchet wheel 260. A cover-tape take-up device 264 which takes upthe cover tape 246 is attached to the main member 250 via a bracket 266.The take-up device 264 includes a take-up reel 268 which does not rotateand accordingly does not take up the cover tape 244, when the CC carriertape 242 is fed, and which rotates and accordingly takes up the covertape 244, when the tape feeding mechanism 252 prepares for the nexttape-feeding action.

The tape feeding mechanism 252 and the cover-tape take-up device 264 ofeach CC feeder 200 are driven by a driving device 272 which utilizes themain servomotor 100 as its drive source. The driving device 272 includesa driving member 274 which is provided at the CC supplying position ofthe CC supplying apparatus 12 such that the driving member 274 ismovable up and down; and a motion converting device (not shown) whichincludes a cam, a cam follower, etc. and which converts the rotation ofthe main servomotor 100 into the upward and downward movement of thedriving member 274, which causes a driving lever 276 to move up anddown. Thus, the feeding mechanism and the take-up device 252, 264 areoperated.

When the driving member 274 is moved down and is engaged with anengaging roller 278 (FIG. 5), the driving lever 276 is moved down, whichcauses a driving lever 279 to be pivoted. Consequently a cover-drivingbar 281 is moved frontward to move the cover member 256 frontward, and atape-feeding bar 283 is moved frontward to pivot a pivotable plate 285.Thus, the ratchet pawl 258 which is pivotally attached to the plate 285is moved keeping its engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 260,so that the ratchet wheel 260, and a sprocket 358 which is attached tothe wheel 260 such that the sprocket 358 is not rotatable relative tothe wheel 260, are rotated. Since the CC carrier tape 242 includes theCC-accommodating tape 244 which has a number of perforations which areengaged with the teeth of the sprocket 358, the carrier tape 242 ismoved frontward by one pitch equal to the regular interval of theCC-accommodating pockets of the CC-accommodating tape 244. Consequentlythe leading one of the CCs 150 from which the cover tape 246 has beenremoved is fed to a CC-pick-up position which is prescribed in theCC-supply portion corresponding to one end portion of the main member250 in a lengthwise direction thereof. When the leading CC 150 is fed tothe CC-pick-up position, the take-up reel 268 of the take-up device 264is not rotated but a movable guiding roller 280 is moved downward andfrontward by the pivotal movement of the driving lever 279, so that thedistance between the guiding roller 280 and the take-up reel 268 isincreased and accordingly a certain length of the cover tape 246 whichhas been taken up is delivered or fed out. Thus, the carrier tape 242 isallowed to move frontward by one pitch, together with the cover member256.

On the other hand, when the driving member 274 is moved up, the drivinglever 279 is pivoted by a biasing force of a tension coil spring 282, sothat the cover-driving bar 281 and the tape-feeding bar 283 are movedrearward and the driving lever 276 is moved up to follow the drivingmember 274. Consequently the cover member 256 is moved rearward, thetape feeding mechanism 252 prepares for the next tape-feeding action,and the take-up reel 268 of the take-up device 264 is rotated to peeland take-up a one-pitch length of the cover tape 246 from theCC-accommodating tape 244. In addition, the movable guiding roller 280attached to the driving lever 279 is moved upward and rearward, so thatthe distance between the guiding roller 280 and the take-up reel 268 isdecreased and accordingly a certain length of the cover tape 246 istaken up by the reel 268.

A tape-feeding direction in which the CC carrier tape 242 is fed isparallel to the lengthwise direction of the main member 250 of each CCfeeder 200, i.e., a front-rear direction of each feeder 200. A directionof thickness of each feeder 200 will be referred to as the left-right orwidthwise direction thereof. Since the feeding of the CC carrier tape242 and the taking up of the cover tape 246 are not relevant to thepresent invention, more detailed description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, a CC-accommodating-tape treating device 284 isprovided, on the support plate 69, at a position corresponding to theCC-sucking position. The treating device 284 includes a cutter whichcuts, into small pieces, the CC-accommodated tape 244 from which the CCs150 have been picked up, and a vacuum device which applies a negativepressure to the cut small pieces and collects them. Each time one CC 150is supplied and the carrier tape 242 is fed one pitch, the treatingdevice 244 cuts off a one-pitch length of the tape 244.

As shown in FIG. 5, the main member 250 of each CC feeder 200 has apositioning projection 290 which projects downward from a lower surfaceof an upstream-side portion of the main member 250 in the tape-feedingdirection and which extends parallel to the tape-feeding direction. Asshown in FIG. 6, the positioning projection 290 has a tapered shapewhose width decreases in an upstream direction opposite to thetape-feeding direction. Thus, in the state in which the CC feeders 200are held by the circular table 202, the projection 290 of each one ofthe feeders 200 is prevented from being interfered with by that of itsadjacent feeders 200. The projection 290 has an engaging surface 292which is formed in an upper surface of an upstream-end portion thereofin the tape-feeding direction and which is inclined in an upstream anddownward direction. A positioning rib 294 projects downward from a lowersurface of the projection 290. The rib 294 has a constant width smallerthan the smallest width of the projection 290. The main member 250 has aconstant width smaller than the smallest width of the projection 290.Thus, the main member 250 of each CC feeder 200 is prevented from beinginterfered with by that of its adjacent feeders 200.

As shown in FIG. 5, a second positioning projection 296 projectsdownward from a downstream-end portion of the first positioningprojection 290 in the tape-feeding direction. Thus, the secondprojection 296 extends in a direction opposite to the main member 250and perpendicular to the first projection 290. The second projection 296has, in an intermediate portion thereof, a part-cylindrical engagingsurface 298 which opens in a downstream-side surface thereof and whosecenter line is parallel to the widthwise direction of the CC feeder 200.The second projection 296 has, in a free end portion thereof, a guidingsurface 300 which is inclined in a downward and rearward direction.

As shown in FIG. 7, the CC carrier tape 242 is wound around a tape reel308. A reel holder 310 which holds the tape reel 308 is connected by aconnecting device 312 to a lower surface of an intermediate portion ofthe main member 250 in the lengthwise direction thereof. Theintermediate portion of the main member 250 is between the firstpositioning projection 290 and the CC-supply portion thereof. The reelholder 310 and the connecting device 312 cooperate with each other toprovide a reel-holding device of the CC feeder 200. The reel holder 310includes a reel container 314 having a width slightly greater than thatof the tape reel 308. The reel container 314 has a pair of side walls316, 318 each of which has a generally circular shape whose diameter isgreater than that of the reel 308 but a portion of which is cut off. Thecut-off portion of one 316 of the two side walls 316, 318 is greaterthan that of the other side wall 318, but does not include a centralportion of the same 316.

The reel container 314 has a bottom wall connecting the one side wall316 to a portion of the other side wall 318, and opens on the upstreamside of the CC feeder 200 in the tape-feeding direction. The tape reel308 fits on an axis member 320 which is detachably attached to the twoside walls 316, 318 such that opposite end portions of the axis member320 are supported by the same 316, 318, respectively. Thus, the reel 308can be supported by the two side walls 316, 318 via the axis member 320such that the reel 308 is rotatable about an axis line parallel to thewidthwise direction of the feeder 200. The reel container 314 and theaxis member 320 detachably attached thereto cooperate with each other toprovide the reel holder 310. Two plate-like fins 322 each as an engagingmember are fixed at two locations on an outer surface of the bottom wallof the reel container 314 which are distant from each other in acircumferential direction of the container 314.

The connecting device 312 includes two hinge devices 328 and aconnecting member 330. As shown in FIG. 8, a support member 332 is fixedto the lower surface of the intermediate portion of the elongate mainmember 250. The support member 332 has a plate-like shape including abase portion fixed to the main member 250 and a pendent portion which ispendent from the base portion at one of widthwise opposite ends of themain member 250 such that the plane of the pendent portion is parallelto the lengthwise direction of the main member 250 and is perpendicularto the widthwise direction of the same 250. A first hinge member 334(FIG. 7) is fixed, by welding as a sort of fixing means, to anintermediate portion of the pendent portion of the support member 332 asviewed in the lengthwise direction of the main member 250, such that thehinge member 334 extends parallel to the lengthwise direction of themain member 250.

As shown in FIG. 7, the side wall 318 of the reel container 314 includesan upper projection 338 which projects upward. A second hinge member 334similar to the first hinge member 334 is fixed, by welding, to anintermediate portion of the upper projection 338 of the side wall 318 asviewed in the lengthwise direction of the main member 250, such that thesecond hinge member 334 extends parallel to the lengthwise direction ofthe main member 250.

The connecting member 330 is formed of an elongate sheet or leaf spring.A first pair of third hinge members 342 are fixed by welding to one oflengthwise opposite ends of the connecting member 330 in such a mannerthat the two hinge members 342 are distant from each other in thelengthwise direction of the main member 250 and coaxially extend in thatdirection, and a second pair of third hinge members 342 are fixed bywelding to the other end of the same 330 in a similar manner. A firsthinge pin 344 fits in the first hinge member 334 fixed to the supportmember 332 and the first pair of third hinge members 342 fixed to theone end of the connecting member 330, and a second hinge pin 344 fits inthe second hinge member 334 fixed to the upper projection 338 of thereel container 314 and the second pair of third hinge members 342 fixedto the other end of the connecting member 330.

Thus, the connecting member 330 is connected, at its opposite endportions, to the reel holder 310 and the main member 250, respectively,such that the connecting member 330 is pivotable about each of two axislines which are parallel to the lengthwise direction of the main member250 and which are distant from each other in a direction perpendicularto both the lengthwise and widthwise directions of the main member 250.With each CC feeder 200 being held by the circular table 202, theconnecting member 330 extends in a direction parallel to the axis lineof the circular table 202, i.e., the center axis line of the supportshaft 212, and is connected, at its opposite end portions, to the reelholder 310 and the main member 250, respectively, such that theconnecting member 330 is pivotable about each of two two axis lineswhich are perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the CC feeder200 and which are distant from each other in a direction parallel to theaxis line of the circular table 202. The reel holder 310 is pendent fromthe main portion 254 of the feeder 200, holds the tape reel 308 suchthat the whole of the reel 308 is positioned below the main portion 254,and is connected to the main portion 254 such that no portion of thereel 308 projects outward from the main portion 254 in the widthwisedirection of the main member 150 and only less than a half portion ofthe reel 308 projects outward from the main portion 254 in thelengthwise direction of the main member 150.

A pair of guide members 350 are fixed to an intermediate portion of oneof opposite surfaces of the upper projection 338 which is on the side ofthe main member 250. A single guide member 352 is fixed to a centralportion of one of opposite surfaces of the support member 332 which ison the side of the main member 250. Each of the guide members 350, 352is provided by a curved plate-like member. The CC carrier tape 242 drawnfrom the tape reel 308 is fed to the main portion 254 by being passedbetween the two guide members 350 and being guided by the guide member352.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the main member 250 has a curved guide groove356 as a guide portion which opens in the bottom surface thereof and oneof the opposite side surfaces thereof. The guide groove 356 is curved ina direction from the bottom of the intermediate portion of the mainmember 250 toward the front end portion of the same 250, such that thegroove 356 is upwardly convex in a vertical direction. After the CCcarrier tape 242 is fed through the guide groove 356, it is fed onto theupper surface of the main member 250, so that the perforations of theCC-accommodating tape 244 are engaged with the teeth of the sprocket358. Simultaneously, the carrier tape 242 is covered with the cover tape256, so that the tape 242 is prevented from jumping out of the mainmember 250. Since the cover-driving bar 281 and the tape-feeding bar 283partly close the opening of the guide groove 256 in the side surface ofthe main member 250, the carrier tape 242 is prevented from moving inits widthwise direction by one side wall of the groove 356 and the bars281, 283. In addition, since the carrier tape 242 (more exactly, theCC-accommodating tape 244) is engaged with the sprocket 358, the tape242 is accurately positioned in its widthwise direction relative to themain member 250. Thus, the lengthwise direction of the tape 242 ismaintained parallel to the lengthwise direction of the main member 250,so that the leading one of the CCs 150 from which the cover tape 246 hasbeen peeled is accurately positioned at the CC-pick-up position of theCC feeder 200. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the hinge members 334, 342 areprovided on one of both sides of the connecting member 330 which isopposite to the other side on which the main member 250 or the tape reel308 is present. However, the hinge members 334, 342 have a smalldiameter. Accordingly, with the CC feeders 200 being held by thecircular table 202, the hinge members 334, 342 of one of two adjacentfeeders 200 do not interfere with the feeding of the CC carrier tape 242in the other feeder 200.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a small-diameter annular positioning plate370 and a large-diameter annular positioning plate 372 are fixed to aradially outer portion of the annular portion 210 of the circular table202, such that the two annular plates 370, 372 are concentric with theannular portion 210, i.e., the circular table 202. The two positioningplates 370, 372 have a plurality of positioning grooves 374 and aplurality of positioning grooves 376, respectively, which are formedthrough the thickness of the corresponding plate 370, 372 in radialdirections of the circular table 202 and which are equi-angularly spacedfrom each other about the center axis line of the circular table 202.The positioning grooves 374, 376 have a predetermined width whichassures that the positioning rib 294 of the main member 250 of each CCfeeder 200 fits in each groove 374, 376 such that each CC feeder 200 isprevented from moving in its widthwise direction. An annular stopperplate 378 is fixed to an inner circumferential surface of thesmall-diameter positioning plate 370. The stopper plate 378 has aninclined engaging surface 380 (FIG. 5) which is engageable with theinclined engaging surface 292 of the main member 250 of each CC feeder200. The stopper plate 378 is commonly used for all the CC feeders 200,and the inclined engaging surface 380 has an annular shape.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a plurality of engaging devices 384 areprovided on an outer circumferential surface of the angular portion 210of the circular table 202. FIG. 6 shows the two CC feeders 200 and thetwo engaging devices 384 as representatives of all the feeders 200 andthe engaging devices 384. Each of the engaging devices 384 includes anattachment member 386 which is fixed to the outer circumferentialsurface of the annular portion 210 at a position which is lower by asmall distance than the upper surface of the annular portion 210 andwhich corresponds to one of the positioning grooves 376 of thepositioning plate 372. Each attachment member 386 has a recess 388 whichopens upward, and an engaging lever 390 is attached to the attachmentmember 386 such that the engaging lever 390 is pivotable about an axisline parallel to a tangential line to the outer circumferential surfaceof the annular portion 210. An engaging roller 394 is attached to anupper end of each engaging lever 390 such that the engaging roller 394is rotatable about an axis line parallel to the axis line about whichthe engaging lever 390 is pivotable. Each engaging lever 390 is biasedby a compression coil spring 396 as an elastic member as a sort ofbiasing device which is provided between a lower end portion thereof andthe attachment member 386, in a direction in which the engaging roller394 is moved toward the outer circumferential surface of the annularportion 210.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, an annular bucket 400 is connected by fourconnecting devices 402 to a lower surface of the radially outer portionof the annular portion 210. The bucket 400 opens upward. Two annularengaging members 404, 406 are fixed to an inner surface of the bucket400 at two positions, respectively, which are spaced apart from eachother in a radial direction of the circular table 202, such that the twoengaging members 404, 406 are concentric with the bucket 400. Theengaging member 404 has a comb-like configuration having a plurality ofengaging grooves 408 which are equi-angularly spaced from each otherabout the center axis line of the circular table 202 and which areformed at a plurality of positions where the respective reel holders 310of the CC feeders 200 are attached to the bucket 400, respectively. Eachengaging groove 408 extends in a radial direction of the circular table202. The engaging member 406 also has a comb-like configuration having aplurality of engaging grooves 410 similar to the grooves 408. Theengaging grooves 408, 410 have a constant width which assures that theengaging fins 322 of the reel container 314 of each CC feeder 200 arefit therein such that the fins 322 are not movable in the widthwisedirection of the feeder 200. Each engaging groove 408, 410 is defined bya pair of opposed walls or teeth formed on the engaging member 404, 406,and respective upper end portions of the opposed walls have respectiveinclined surfaces which are inclined such that the distance therebetweenincreases in an upward direction, that is, that the two inclinedsurfaces define an upper opening which functions as a guide for guidingeach engaging fin 322 when the fin 322 is fit or engaged with the groove408, 410.

The four connecting devices 402 are equi-angularly spaced from eachother about the center axis line of the circular table 202. Eachconnecting device 402 includes two hinge devices 414 and two connectingmembers 416. Since the four connecting devices 402 have an identicalconstruction, one of them 402 will be described below as arepresentative thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, a hinge member 418 having a pair ofcylindrical portions 420 is fixed to the lower surface of the radiallyouter portion of the annular portion 210 of the circular table 202. Thehinge member 418 is elongate in a radial direction of the table 202. Ahinge member 422 having a generally cylindrical shape is fit in a spacebetween the two cylindrical portions 420 of the hinge member 418, and ahinge pin 424 is inserted through the hinge members 418, 422. Thus, inthe hinge device 414, the hinge member 422 is connected to the hingemember 418 such that the hinge member 422 is pivotable about an axisline perpendicular to the axis line of the table 202.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, an annular, plate-like attachment portion428 is formed integrally with an upper end portion of an inner wall ofthe bucket 400, such that the attachment portion 428 extendshorizontally. A second hinge member 418 identical with the first hingemember 418 fixed to the lower surface of the annular portion 210 isfixed to an upper surface of the attachment portion 428. The secondhinge member 418 is elongate in a radial direction of the annular bucket400. A second hinge member 422 having a generally cylindrical shape isfit in a space between a pair of cylindrical portions 420 of the secondhinge member 418, and a second hinge pin 424 is inserted through thesecond hinge members 418, 422. Thus, the second hinge member 422 isconnected to the second hinge member 418 such that the second hingemember 422 is pivotable about an axis line perpendicular to the centeraxis line of the bucket 400. The second hinge members 418, 422 and thesecond hinge pin 424 cooperate with each other to provide a second hingedevice 414.

The two connecting members 416 each of which is formed of a leaf springare fixed, at lengthwise opposite end portions thereof, to opposite sidesurfaces of the first hinge member 422 of the first hinge device 414 andopposite side surfaces of the second hinge member 422 of the secondhinge device 414. The connecting members 416 are elongate in a directionparallel to the axis line of the circular table 202, and are connectedat the lengthwise opposite end portions thereof to the table 202 and thebucket 400, respectively, such that the connecting members 416 arepivotable about each of two axis lines which are perpendicular to thedirection of rotation of the CC feeders 200 and which are spaced apartfrom each other in a direction parallel to the axis line of the table202.

The circular table 202 is equipped with four binder delay-and-returndevices 450 which are equi-angular spaced from one another about theaxis line thereof. As shown in FIG. 10, each device 450 includes twoshock absorbers 452, 454 which are commercially available. As shown inFIG. 7, the annular attachment portion 428 of the bucket 400 has fourplate-like engaging portions 456 at respective positions where theattachment portion 428 is connected to the circular table 202 by thefour connecting devices 402. Each engaging portion 456 extends in aplane perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the table 202. Thetwo shock absorbers 452, 454 are supported by two brackets 458,respectively, which are fixed to the table 202, such that the twoabsorbers 452, 454 are opposed to, and coaxial with, each other on bothsides of the engaging portion 456.

Since the two shock absorbers 452, 454 have an identical construction,one 452 of them will be described as a representative thereof byreference to FIG. 11.

The shock absorber 452 includes a cylindrical casing 464, and acylindrical tube 466 which is fixed inside the casing 464 such that aspace is left between the casing 464 and the tube 466 in a radialdirection of the casing 464. A piston 468 is fit in the tube 466 suchthat the piston 468 is fluid-tightly slideable relative to the tube 466.A first and a second fluid chamber 470, 472 in which a working fluidsuch as an oil is present are formed on both sides of the piston 468. Apiston rod 474 which is formed integrally with the piston 468 extendsthrough the second fluid chamber 472 and projects outward from thecasing 464. The piston 468 is biased by two compression coil springs 476each as an elastic member as a sort of biasing device which are providedin the first fluid chamber 470, in a direction in which the piston rod474 projects out of the casing 464. Respective one ends of the twosprings 476 which are adjacent to each other are supported by a seatmember 478.

The first and second fluid chambers 470, 472 are communicated with eachother via an axial-direction passage 480 and a plurality ofradial-direction passages 482, and a check valve 486 is provided in theaxial passage 480. The check valve 486 includes a seat member 488, aball 490 as a valve member, and a spring 490 which biases the ball 490in a direction in which the ball 490 is seated on the seat member 488.The check valve 486 permits the fluid to flow in a direction from thesecond chamber 472 to the first chamber 470 but does not permit thefluid to flow in the opposite direction.

A third, annular fluid chamber 496 is provided between the casing 464and the cylindrical tube 466. The first and third fluid chambers 470,496 are communicated with each other via a plurality of passages 498which are formed through the thickness of the cylindrical wall of thetube 466. The tube 466 has, on an outer circumferential surface thereof,a plurality of annular portions 500 which project radially outward andwhich are spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to anaxis line of the tube 466. One or more passages 498 are formed througheach of the annular portions 500. Since the clearance between a radiallyouter opening of each of the passages 498 and an inner surface of thecasing 464 is very small, the clearance restricts the flowing of thefluid out of the passage 498. The distance between each pair of adjacentpassages 498 as seen in the axial direction of the tube 466 decreases ina direction in which the piston rod 474 is retracted into the casing464, that is, increases in a direction in which the rod 474 is advancedout of the casing 464.

The second and third fluid chambers 472, 496 are communicated with eachother via a plurality of passages 504 which are formed through thethickness of the cylindrical tube 466 and which have a sufficientlygreat cross section. A volume-changeable member 506 which is filled witha gas such as air is provided in the third fluid chamber 496. The volumeof the volume-changeable member 506 is decreased when the gas containedtherein is compressed.

When the piston rod 474 receives a force to push it into the cylindricaltube 466, the piston 468 is retracted while compressing the springs 476.Because of this retraction, the volume of the volume-changeable member506 is decreased, and the fluid is flown from the first fluid chamber470 into the third fluid chamber 496 via the passages 498. Since,however, the flows of the fluid from the passages 498 are restricted,the shock absorber 452 applies an attenuating force to decrease thespeed of retraction of the piston 468. As the distance of retraction ofthe piston 468 increases, the number of the passages 498 whichcommunicate the first chamber 470 with the third chamber 496 decreases,and the difficulty to further retract the piston 468 increases. On theother hand, if the force is released from the piston rod 474, the piston468 is advanced because of the biasing force of the springs 476. At thebeginning, the number of the passages 498 which communicate the firstchamber 470 with the third chamber 496 is the minimum and accordinglyonly the least amount of fluid is flown from the third chamber 496 intothe first chamber 496 via the passages 498. However, a large amount offluid is flown from the second chamber 472 into the first chamber 470via the passages 482, 504 and the check valve 486 (or the passage 480).Thus, the piston 468 is quickly advanced.

The pair of shock absorbers 452, 454 are designed such that in aninitial state thereof in which the absorbers 452, 454 are initiallyattached to the circular table 202 (or the brackets 458), the respectivepiston rods 474 of the two absorbers 452, 454 are symmetrically engagedwith the engaging portion 456 in such a manner that the piston 468 ofeach absorber 452, 454 compresses the corresponding springs 476 a littleand closes one of the passages 498 which is the nearest to the engagingportion 456.

Each CC feeder 200 is held by the circular table 202 in such a mannerthat first an operator tilts the feeder 200 such that the rear halfportion thereof (i.e., the upstream half portion thereof in the CCfeeding direction) is lower than the front half portion thereof (i.e.,the downstream half portion thereof which includes the CC-supply portionthereof), second engages the rear end portion of the positioning rib 294with an appropriate one of the positioning grooves 474 of the innerpositioning member 370, subsequently moves the feeder 200 toward theaxis line of the table 202 till the inclined surfaces 292, 380 engageeach other, and then place the front half portion thereof down onto thepositioning members 370, 372. Thus, the positioning rib 294 is naturallyfit in the corresponding positioning groove 376 of the outer positioningmember 372.

Simultaneously, the positioning projection 296 naturally enters thespace between the engaging roller 394 and the circular table 202, sothat the engaging lever 390 is pivoted in a direction in which theroller 394 is moved away from the table 202 against the biasing force ofthe compression coil spring 396. Thus, the lower end portion of theprojection 394 is fit in the recess 388 of the attachment member 386.The guide surface 300 facilitates the entering of the projection 296. Inthe state in which the positioning rib 294 is fit in the positioninggrooves 374, 376, the roller 394 is engaged with the engaging surface298. The biasing force of the spring 396 is applied to the lever 390which accordingly presses the main member 250 of the CC feeder 200, sothat the inclined surface 292 is pressed on the inclined surface 380.Thus, the CC feeder 200 is positioned in the lengthwise directionthereof. In addition, because of the inclination of the surfaces 292,380, the rear end portion of the feeder 200 around the inclined surface292 is pressed on an upper surface of the positioning plate 370.Simultaneously, because the engaging surface 298 is positioned below therespective upper surfaces of the positioning plates 370, 372, the momentof the biasing force is applied to the feeder 200, about the positionwhere the two inclined surfaces 292, 380 are engaged with each other.This moment is the product of the biasing force and the verticaldistance between that position and the position where the roller 394 isengaged with the surface 298. Owing to this moment, the front endportion of the feeder 200 is pressed on the upper surface of thepositioning plate 372.

Since the positioning rib 294 is fit in the positioning grooves 374, 376and the positioning projection 296 is fit in the recess 388, the CCfeeder 299 is inhibited from being moved in the widthwise directionthereof. The feeder 200 is attached to the table 202 such that thefeeder 200 is prevented from moving in the widthwise and lengthwisedirections thereof and jumping off the table 202 and such that thefeeder 200 takes a substantially horizontal attitude. In addition, therespective CC-supply portions of the CC feeders 200 are arranged along acircle whose center rides on the center axis line of the table 202.

When each CC feeder 200 is attached to the circular table 202, the reelholder 310 of the feeder 200 is accommodated in the bucket 400, and thetwo engaging fins 322 of the holder 310 are fit in appropriate ones ofthe engaging grooves 408, 410 of the engaging members 404, 406. Thus,each of the respective reel holders 310 of the CC feeders 200 isprevented from being moved relative to the bucket 400 in the widthwisedirection of the same 310. The projection 290, the rib 294, theprojection 296, the grooves 374, 376, the recess 388, and the stopperplate 378 cooperate with one another to provide a positioning devicewhich positions each CC feeder 200 relative to the table 202; and theengaging device 384, the stopper member 378, and the projection 290cooperate with one another to provide a fixing device which fixes eachCC feeder 200 to the table 202.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the state in which each CC feeder 200 is held bythe circular table 202, the downstream half portion of the feeder 200 inthe CC feeding direction projects radially outward from the table 202,and the reel holder 310 of the feeder 200 is pendent from the mainmember 250 of the feeder 200 such that a major portion of the holder 310is positioned below the PCB position-and-support device 22 which isprovided at a height position higher than that of the base member 10, inview of the height position of the CC mounting position of the CCmounting device 14, and accordingly has a space thereunder. The bucket400 and the reel holders 310 of the CC feeders 200 are provided andpositioned in the space under the device 22. In addition, as describedabove, the CC sucking position is higher than the CC mounting position,and the respective main members 250 of the feeders 200 attached to thetable 202 are positioned above the space in which the PCB 20 is moved.Therefore, when the CCs are mounted on the PCB 20, the PCB 20 or the PCBsupport table 40 can be moved into the space between the main members250 and the reel holders 310 of the feeders 200. Thus, the present CCmounting system 8 enjoys a compact construction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the CC supplying apparatus 12 includes a safetycover 510 which prevents the operator from safety hazards and which alsofunctions to reduce noise. The safety cover 510 has a window 512 whichcan be opened and closed. The operator cannot manually open and closethe window 512, when the CC supplying apparatus 12 is supplying the CCs150 to the CC mounting device 14.

The present CC mounting system 8 includes the control device 520 shownin FIG. 12. The control device 520 is essentially provided by a computer530 including the PU (processing unit) 522, a read only memory (ROM)524, a random access memory (RAM) 526, and a bus 528 which connectsthose elements 522, 524, 526 to one another. An input interface 532 isconnected to the bus 528, and the image taking device 102 is connectedto the input interface 532. An output interface 534 is also connected tothe bus 528, and is connected via respective drive circuits 536, 538,540, 542, 544, 546, 548, 550 to the belt-driving motors 28, thebelt-driving motor 44, the elevating and lowering device 46, thetable-driving servomotors 54, 56, the main servomotor 100, the nozzleselect-and-rotate servomotors 148, and the table-rotating servomotor220. The ROM 24 stores various software programs which are necessary formoving and positioning the CC feeders 200 and supplying and mounting theCCs 150 on the PCBs 20.

Each of the servomotors 54, 56, 100, 148, 220 each of which is employedas a sort of electric motor as a drive source can be rotated by anydesired angle and then be stopped. Stepper motors may be employed as thedrive sources in place of the servomotors 54, 56, 100, 148, 220.

In the CC mounting system 8 constructed as described above, when the CCs150 are mounted on the PCB 20, the PCB 20 is carried in onto the PCBposition-and-support device 22 by the PCB carry-in device 24. After thePCB support table 40 receives the PCB 20 at its uppermost position, thetable 40 holding the PCB 20 is lowered and then is moved by therespective movements of the X and Y tables 36, 38 to a predetermined setof X and Y coordinates on a horizontal X-Y plane where a CC 150 ismounted at one of a plurality of CC-mount positions on the PCB 20.Before the CCs 150 are mounted on the PCB 20, respective images of aplurality of reference marks fixed to the PCB 20 are taken and, based onthe taken images, respective errors of each of the CC-mount positions inthe X-axis and Y-axis directions are calculated. Based on the thuscalculated errors of each CC-mount position in the X-axis and Y-axisdirections and the respective errors of each CC 150 held by theCC-holding head 64 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, thepredetermined set of X and Y coordinates are corrected by the controldevice 520.

When the CCs 150 are mounted on the PCB 20, the main servomotor 100 isactuated to contemporaneously rotate the four concave globoidal cams 90a-90 d in synchronism with one another, so that the fifteen rotaryplates 60 are rotated and stopped and the fifteen CC-holding heads 64are are sequentially moved to, and stopped at, the CC sucking positionwhere each head 64 picks up a CC 150 from the CC feeder 200 which ispositioned at the CC supplying position. After each head 64 picks up theCC 150, the corresponding rotary plate 60 is moved to, and stopped at,the CC-image taking position where the image of the CC 150 held by thehead 64 is taken and, based on the taken image, the respective errors ofthe CC 150 held by the head 64 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions andthe rotation error of the same 150 about the axis line of the suctionnozzle 146 are calculated. After the CC-image taking position, therotary plate 60 is moved to, and stopped at, the CC mounting positionwhere the head 64 mounts the CC 150 on the PCB 20.

An appropriate one of the CC feeders 200 is positioned at the CCsupplying position where the feeder 200 supplies a CC 150. After onefeeder 200 supplies a CC 150, the circular table 202 is rotated andstopped so that another feed 200 which is to supply a CC 150 next ispositioned at the CC supplying position. Usually, the feeders 200 areattached to the table 202 in the same order as that in which therespective sorts of CCs 150 stored in the feeders 200 are mounted on thePCB 20. Therefore, usually, after one feeder 200 supplies one CC 150,the table 202 is rotated by one angular pitch which is equal to a valueobtained by dividing 360 (degrees) with the maximum number of thefeeders 200 that can be attached to the table 200, so that the followingfeeder 200 is positioned at the CC supplying position.

Next, there will be described the operation of the CC supplyingapparatus 12 when the circular table 202 is rotated by one angular pitchand then is stopped. In an initial state in which the table 202 has beenstopped for a long time, the bucket 400 and the reel holders 310 whichare movable as a unit with the table 200 are also stopped such that theelastic force of the springs 476 of one of the two shock absorbers 452of each binder delay-and-return device 450 is well balanced by that ofthe other absorber 454. Thus, the bucket 400 takes its reference phaserelative to the table 202. Here, it is assumed that the table 202 isrotated by one pitch from its initial state in such a manner that firstthe rotation speed of the table 202 is slowly accelerated and then isslowly decelerated. When the table 202 is accelerated, the main members250 (or main portions 254) of the CC feeders 200 attached to the table202 are also accelerated as a unit with the table 202. On the otherhand, the bucket 400 is connected to the table 202 by the connectingdevices 402 such that the bucket 400 is rotatable relative to the table202 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the table202, and the respective reel holders 310 of the feeders 200 areconnected to the respective main members 250 of the feeders 200 suchthat the holders 310 are rotatable relative to the main members 250 inthe direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the table 202.Because of their inertial mass, the bucket 400 and the reel holders 310are retarded from the table 202 and the main members 250, respectively.

In each of the connecting devices 402 which connect the circular table202 and the bucket 400 to each other, the connecting members 416 arepivoted relative to the table 202 and relative to the bucket 400, sothat the bucket 400 is rotated relative to the table 202 (i.e., is movedrelative to the table 202 in the circumferential direction of the table202) while keeping its horizontal attitude. As the bucket 400 and thetable 202 are rotated relative to each other, the upper hinge device 414where the upper end portions of the connecting members 416 are connectedto the table 202 and the lower hinge device 414 where the lower endportions of the connecting members 416 are connected to the bucket 400are not only moved relative to each other in the circumferentialdirection of the table 202 but also are rotated relative to each otherabout an axis line parallel to the center axis line of the table 202.The relative rotation of the two hinge devices 414 is permitted by theelastic deformation of the connecting members 416.

In each of the connecting devices 312 each of which connects between themain member 250 (or main portion 254) and the reel holder 310 of each CCfeeder 200, the connecting member 330 is pivoted relative to the mainmember 250 and relative to the reel holder 310, so that the reel holder310 is not only moved relative to the main member 250 in a directionopposite to the direction of movement of the main member 250 (i.e., inthe circumferential direction of the table 202) while keeping itshorizontal attitude, but also is rotated relative to the main member 250about an axis line parallel to the center axis line of the table 202.The relative rotation of the reel holder 310 and the main member 250 ispermitted by the distortion of the connecting member 330. In addition, aportion of the CC carrier tape 242 between the main member 250 and thereel 310 is elastically bent along the connecting member 330 beingpivoted, but is not interfered with by the connecting device 312 of thefollowing feeder 200. Since the respective reel holders 310 of thefeeders 200 are engaged with the bucket 400, the holders 310 are rotatedwith the bucket 400 relative to the table 202 and the main members 250in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the table 202.This rotation is permitted by the pivotal movement of the connectingmembers 416, 330. Accordingly, like a pendulum, the bucket 400, the reelholders 310, the reels 308, and the CC carrier tapes 242 swing up alittle and store their potential energy. This potential energy willproduce a biasing force to restore or return the bucket 400 and theholders 310 to their reference phase relative to the table 202.Hereinafter, this biasing force will be referred to as thereference-phase restoring force.

When the circular table 202 is accelerated, the casing 464 of anupstream one 452 of the two shock absorbers 452, 454 of each binderdelay-and-return device 450 in the direction of rotation of the table202 is moved with the table 202, so that the piston rod 474 of theupstream absorber 452 is forcedly retracted into the cylindrical tube466 while compressing the springs 476. Simultaneously, the casing 464 ofthe downstream absorber 454 is also moved with the table 202, so thatthe piston rod 474 of the downstream absorber 452 is advanced out of thecylindrical tube 466 while the springs 476 are expanded. However, as theelastic force of the springs 476 of the upstream absorber 452 increases,that of the downstream absorber 454 decreases, which leads to increasingthe reference-phase restoring force to restore or return the bucket 400and the reel holders 310 to their reference phase relative to the table202. That is, the respective springs 476 of the two absorbers 452, 454cooperate with a potential-energy storing mechanism including theconnecting members 416, 330, the bucket 400, and the reel holders 310,to provide a biasing device which returns the bucket 400 and the holders310 to their reference phase relative to the table 202. In addition, theattenuating force of the upstream absorber 452 decreases the speed atwhich the bucket 400 and the holders 310 are rotated in the directionopposite to the direction in which the table 202 is rotated. Thus, whenthe table 202 is accelerated, the passages 498, the annular portions500, and the inner surface of the casing 464 of the upstream absorber452 function as a damping device. In addition, as described above, thedistance between each pair of adjacent passages 498 as seen in the axialdirection of the tube 466 decreases in the direction in which the pistonrod 474 is retracted into the casing 464. Accordingly, as the amount ofdelaying of the bucket 400 from the table 202 increases, the overallcross-section area of the fluid passages between the first and thirdfluid chambers 470, 496 largely decreases, and the speed-decreasingeffect of the damping device largely increases while preventing thegeneration of great impact. In the present embodiment, the bucket 400having the engaging members 404, 406 provides a reel-holder binder as aCC-holder binder, and the damping device also functions as a stoppingdevice which stops the delaying of the binder and thereby defines themaximum amount of delaying of the binder from the circular table 202 asa rotary or movable table.

As the acceleration of the circular table 202 decreases, the inertialmoment to rotate the bucket 400 and the reel holders 310 relative to thetable 202 in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of thetable 202 decreases, and eventually becomes equal to thereference-position restoring force caused by the above-describedpotential energy and the elastic forces of the springs 476. At thispoint of time, the delaying of the bucket 400 and the holders 310 fromthe table 202 stops. Subsequently, as the acceleration of the table 202decreases, the bucket 400 and the holders 310 rotate relative to thetable 202 in the same direction as the direction of rotation of thetable 202. Thus, the amount of delaying of those elements 400, 310decreases. At a time around the time when the rotation of the table 202is slowly decelerated and eventually is stopped, the bucket 400 and theholders 310 are returned to their reference phase relative to the table202. To this end, the attenuating force of the downstream absorber 454decreases the speed of rotation of those elements 400, 310 in the samedirection as the direction of rotation of the table 202. Thus, when thetable 202 is decelerated, the passages 498, the annular portions 500,and the inner surface of the casing 464 of the downstream absorber 454cooperate with one another to provide a damping device. The timing atwhich the elements 400, 310 are returned to their reference phasedepends on the inertial moments of the tape reels 308 held by the reelholders 310 and the CC carrier tapes 242 wound around the reels 308, andchanges depending upon the remaining amounts of the carrier tapes 242.In the present embodiment, it is taken as a general rule that the bucket400 and the holders 310 are returned to their reference phase while thetable 202 is held in its long-stop state in which the table 202 is heldstopped, after its rotation is completely stopped, for a time longerthan a predetermined time needed for one CC 150 to be supplied from thetable 202 to the CC mounting device 14.

The above description relates to the operation of the CC supplyingapparatus 12 in the assumed case where the circular table 202 is rotatedby one angular pitch from its initial state and then is stopped and heldin its long-stop state in which the table 202 is held stopped for thelong time longer than the predetermined time needed for the supplying ofone CC 150. However, in an actual operation of the apparatus 12, thetable 202 is rotated again by one angular pitch after it is rotated byone pitch and then is stopped for the predetermined time. Thus, thetable 202 is rotated again before the bucket 400 and the reel holders310 are returned to their reference phase. In the present embodiment,the bucket 400 and the holders 310 follow the table 202 after an anglemore than one angular pitch. More specifically described, the table 202and the main members 250 (or main portions 254) 250 of the CC feeders200 are intermittently rotated and stopped by each angular pitch whilebeing largely accelerated and decelerated, whereas the bucket 400 andthe holders 310 are rotated at lower acceleration and deceleration tofollow the table 202 and the main members 250. Thus, the CC supplyingapparatus 12 produces only smaller vibration because of the loweracceleration and deceleration of the bucket 400 and the holders 310.FIG. 3 shows an ideal case where, when the table 202 and the mainportions 254 are intermittently rotated by each pitch, the bucket 400and the holders 310 are rotated at a constant speed to follow the table202 and the main portions 254 after a constant angle. In this case, theapparatus 12 is free from the vibration which would otherwise beproduced by the acceleration and deceleration of the elements 400, 310.In fact, however, the bucket 400 and the holders 310 are rotated whilebeing delayed a little from the table 202 and the devices 254, and therelationship between the time and the angle of rotation of the formerelements 400, 310 is represented by a smoother curve than that for therelationship between the time and the angle of rotation of the latterelements 202, 254. This leads to reducing the vibration generated by theapparatus 12.

In the case where the circular table 202 is held stopped for a timelonger than the predetermined time, for one CC feeder 200 tosuccessively supply two or more CCs 150, the delaying of the bucket 400and the reel holders 310 from the table 202 and the main portions 254may be decreased or zeroed. In this case, before the delaying iseliminated or zeroed, the bucket 400 and the holders 300 may temporarilyovershoot the table 202 and the devices 254. Meanwhile, in the presentembodiment, it is taken as a general rule that the table 202 is alwaysrotated in a positive direction so that the respective CC-supplyportions of the feeders 200 are sequentially positioned at the CCsupplying position to supply the CCs 150. However, in the case where thetable 202 is rotated in a negative or reverse direction so that a firstfeeder 200 which had already supplied one CC 150 may supply another CC150 after a second feeder 200 has supplied one CC 150 following thefirst feeder 200, the bucket 400 and the holders 310 are rotated in thepositive direction and the table 202 and the devices 254 are rotated inthe reverse direction. In such cases where the bucket 400 and theholders 310 overshoot their reference phase relative to the table 202,the table 202 may temporarily receive a very large load or torque.Hence, the characteristics of the shock absorbers 452, 454, theacceleration and deceleration of the circular table 202, and therespective masses of the reel container 314, the tape reel 308, and theCC carrier tape 242 are so selected that even in those cases theamplitude of the vibration of the CC supplying apparatus 12 does notexceed a design limit. In particular, in the case where the table 202 isrotated in the reverse direction, it is possible to start thereverse-direction rotation of the table 202 after keeping the table 202stopped for a predetermined time and thereby completely stopping thevibration of the bucket 400 and the holders 310 relative to the table202 or attenuating the vibration to a considerable degree.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the bucket 400 and the reel holders 310engaged therewith are delayed from the circular table 202 and the mainportions 254, while being moved at the lower acceleration anddeceleration. Thus, the present CC supplying apparatus 12 produces onlymuch smaller vibration than in the case where the bucket 400 having alarge mass, the plurality of reel holders 310, the plurality of tapereels 308, and the plurality of carrier tapes 242 are iterativelyrotated and stopped with the table 202 and the main portions 254 at thehigher acceleration and deceleration. Accordingly, each feeder 200 canbe positioned with accuracy, and the failure of supplying of CC 150 canbe prevented. In addition, the acceleration and deceleration of thetable 202 can be increased, which leads to improving the efficiency ofsupplying of CCs 150 of the CC supplying apparatus 12 and therebyimproving the efficiency of mounting of CCs 150 of the CC mountingsystem 8.

In the main portion 254 of each CC feeder 200, the CC carrier tape 242is fed forward through the guide groove 356 while being sandwiched bythe side wall of the groove 356 on one side and the cover-driving bar281 and the tape-feeding bar 283 on the other side. In addition, theperforations of the CC-accommodating tape 244 are engaged with the teethof the sprocket 358. Thus, the carrier tape 242 is positioned in itswidthwise direction, at two portions thereof which are distant from eachother in its lengthwise direction. Accordingly, though the portion ofthe carrier tape 242 between the tape reel 308 and the main member 250is bent along the connecting member 330 by the movement of the reelholder 310 relative to the main member 250, the carrier tape 242 iseffectively prevented from being rotated, out of position, about avertical axis line on the main member 250. Thus, the lengthwisedirection of the carrier tape 242 is kept parallel to the lengthwisedirection of the main member 250, so that the leading one of the CCs 150from which the cover tape 246 has been peeled is accurately positionedat the CC-pick-up position in the CC-supply portion of the feeder 200.

Moreover, the vibration of the floor on which the present CC mountingsystem 8 is disposed is decreased. Therefore, the CC 150 held by eachsuction nozzle 146 of the CC mounting device 14 is effectively preventedfrom moving out of position relative to the nozzle 146, or falling offthe same 146. In addition, the CC 150 is prevented from being mounted atan inaccurate position on the PCB 20, or the CC 150 already mounted onthe PCB 20 is prevented from moving out of position on the same 20.Furthermore, the operator does not feel the uncomfortable vibrationwhich would otherwise be caused.

After all the CCs 150 that are to be mounted on the PCB 20 are suppliedfrom the circular table 202 to the CC mounting device 14, the table 202is rotated or returned to its initial position where the CC-supplyportion of the first CC feeder 200 which first supplies the CC 150 ispositioned at the CC supplying position. The direction in which thetable 202 is rotated for being returned depends on the central angleoccupied by all the feeders 200 attached to the table 202, i.e., definedor contained by the first feeder 200 and the last feeder 200 which lastsupplies the CC 200. If the central angle is greater than 180 degrees,the table 202 is rotated in the positive direction in which the table202 is rotated for supplying the CCs 150; if smaller than 180 degrees,the table 202 is rotated in the reverse direction; and if equal to 180degrees, the table 202 may be rotated in either direction. That is, thedirection of the returning rotation of the table 202 is so selected thatthe angle of rotation of the table 202 in the selected direction is thesmaller than that in the opposite direction. Thus, the table 202 isquickly returned to its initial position.

During the returning rotation of the circular table 202, the table 202is slowly increased and, after its rotation speed reaches apredetermined value, the table 202 is rotated at the predeterminedvalue. Finally, the table 202 is slowly decelerated so that the table202 is stopped at its initial position. The predetermined value isgreater than the maximum speed at which the table 202 is intermittentlyrotated for supplying the CCs 150. Thus, the table 202 is returned toits initial position as quickly as possible. However, the respectiveabsolute values of the acceleration and deceleration of the table 202during its returning rotation are smaller than those of the table duringits intermittent rotations for supplying the CCs 150. During thereturning rotation of the table 202, too, the bucket 400 and the reelholders 310 are delayed from the table 202 and the main portions 254and, after the table 202 is stopped, the elements 400, 310 are returnedto their reference phase relative to the table 202. Thus, the vibrationof the CC supplying apparatus 12 is reduced.

In the PCB position-and-support device 22, the PCB support table 40 isreturned to its original position and then is moved up to its uppermostposition. After the PCB holding device (not shown) releases the PCB 20,the PCB carry-in and carry-out device (not shown) carries out the PCB 20to the PCB carry-out device 26. After the carrying-out of the PCB 20, orconcurrently with the carrying-out of the PCB 20, the carry-in device 24and the carry-in and carry-out device cooperate with each other to carryin the next PCB 20, which is subsequently held by the PCB holding deviceso that CCs 150 may be mounted thereon.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, the connecting devices312 allow the reel holders 310 as CC-holding portions of the CC feeders200 to be delayed from the main portions 254 of the feeders 200, and theconnecting members 330 of the connecting devices 312 have the functionof causing the reel holders 310 to restore their reference phaserelative to the main portions 254. In addition, the connecting devices402 which connect the bucket 400 to the circular table 202 allow thebucket 400 to be delayed from the table 202, and the connecting members416 of the connecting devices 402 have the function of causing thebucket 400 to restore its reference phase relative to the table 202.Thus, each of the connecting devices 402 provides not only abinder-attaching device which attaches the bucket 400 to the table 202,and but also an additional binder delay-and-return device. Thus, it canbe said that the present CC supplying apparatus 12 is equipped with asecond group of binder delay-and-return devices 402 in addition to thefirst group of binder delay-and-return devices 450.

In view of easier feeding of the CC carrier tape 242, it is preferableto employ a small angle as the maximum angle by which the bucket 400 andthe reel holders 310 can be rotated relative to the circular table 202and the main portions 254; and in view of easier reduction of thevibration of the CC supplying apparatus 12, it is preferable to employ alarge angle as the maximum angle. Even though the maximum angle may notbe greater than the angular pitch at which the table 202 isintermittently rotated, the vibration can be reduced to a considerabledegree. However, it is preferable to employ, as the maximum angle, anangle greater than the angular pitch, and it is most preferable toemploy an angle greater than twice the angular pitch.

Referring next to FIGS. 14 to 18, there will be described a secondembodiment of the present invention, which also relates to a CC mountingsystem. However, the present CC mounting system 598 includes a CCsupplying apparatus 600 in place of the CC supplying apparatus 12employed in the CC mounting system 8, shown in FIG. 1, as the firstembodiment. The same reference numerals as used in the first embodimentare used to designate the corresponding elements and parts of the secondembodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

The present CC supplying apparatus 600 includes, as one or more rotarytables, two sectorial tables 602, 604 in place of the full-circulartable 202 employed in the CC supplying apparatus 12. A plurality of CCfeeders 200 are detachably attached to each of the two sectorial tables602, 604. The two sectorial tables 602, 604 have the same central anglewhich is, in the present embodiment, smaller than 120 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 14, a support shaft 608 is fixed to a base member 10such that the support shaft 608 vertically extends, and a sleeve 610 isattached via bearings 612 to the support shaft 608 such that the sleeve610 is rotatable about a vertical axis line and is not movable in anaxial direction of the shaft 608. One 602 of the two sectorial tables602, 604 is fixed to an upper portion of the sleeve 610 such that thetable 602 is concentric with the sleeve 610. A driven gear 614 is fixedto a lower end portion of the sleeve 610, and the rotation of a firsttable-rotating servomotor 616 is transmitted to the driven gear 614 viaa series of gears 618, 620, 622, 624, 626 while the speed of therotation is reduced by the gears 618-626. Thus, the sectorial table 602can be rotated to any desired angular position at any desired angularspeed. The servomotor 616, the driven gear 614, and the gears 618-626cooperate with a control device 690 shown in FIG. 16 to provide a firstindependent table-driving device 628.

The other sectorial table 604 is attached via bearings 630 to a portionof the sleeve 610 which is below another portion thereof to which thefirst sectorial table 602 is fixed, such that the second table 604 isrotatable about a vertical axis line and is not movable in the axialdirection of the support shaft 608. A driven gear 632 is fixed to alower end portion of the sectorial table 604 and, as shown in FIG. 15,the rotation of a second table-rotating servomotor 634 is transmitted tothe driven gear 632 via a series of gears 636, 638, 640, 642, 644 whilethe speed of the rotation is reduced by the gears 636-644. Thus, thesectorial table 604 can be rotated to any desired angular position atany desired angular speed. The servomotor 634, the driven gear 632, andthe gears 636-644 cooperate with the control device 690 to provide asecond independent table-driving device 649. Thus, the two sectorialtables 602, 604 are independently driven or rotated by the two exclusivedriving devices 628, 646, respectively.

Each of the two sectorial tables 602, 604 has an inner and an outerpart-annular positioning plate 650, 652 fixed thereto, and apart-annular stopper plate 654 fixed thereto. Each of the twopositioning plates 650, 652 has a plurality of positioning radialgrooves, and the stopper plate 654 has an inclined engaging surface. Inaddition, each sectorial table 602, 604 is equipped with a plurality ofengaging devices 656 which are disposed at a plurality of positionscorresponding to a plurality of locations where the plurality of CCfeeders 200 are attached. The engaging devices 656 have the sameconstruction as that of the engaging devices 384 employed in the firstembodiment, and the CC feeders 200 are held by the sectorial tables 602,604 in the same manner as that employed in the first embodiment. Thus, amain portion 254 (or a main member 250) of each of the feeders 200 ispositioned relative to the table 602, 604 in a widthwise and alengthwise direction of the feeder 200, and is prevented from jumpingoff the table 602, 604. A reel holder 310 of each feeder 200 is pendentdownward from a middle portion of the main member 250 of the feeder 200.

The respective reel holders 310 of the CC feeders 200 attached to thefirst sectorial table 602 are accommodated in, and engaged with, a firstpart-annular bucket 660 which is attached to the first table 602, andthe respective reel holders 310 of the CC feeders 200 attached to thesecond sectorial table 604 are accommodated in, and engaged with, asecond part-annular bucket 662 which is attached to the second table604. Each of the two buckets 660, 662 has a shape like a container whichopens upward, and has an inner and an outer part-annular engaging member664, 666 fixed thereto. Each of the two engaging members 664, 666 has aplurality of radial engaging grooves. Each of the two buckets 660, 662is connected to a corresponding one of the two tables 602, 604 by threeconnecting devices 668, such that each bucket 660, 662 is rotatablerelative to the corresponding table 602, 604. The connecting devices 668have the same construction as that of the connecting devices 402employed in the first embodiment, and each connecting device 668includes two hinge devices 670 and two connecting members 672.

Each of the sectorial tables 602, 604 is equipped with two binderdelay-and-return devices 676 which have the same construction as that ofthe binder delay-and-return devices 450 employed in the firstembodiment. Each device 676 includes two commercially available shockabsorbers 678, 679 which are provided on both sides of an engagingportion 680 of the corresponding bucket 660, 662, respectively, suchthat the two absorbers 678, 679 are opposed to each other. Each engagingportion 680 extends in a plane perpendicular to the direction ofrotation of the corresponding table 602, 604.

Each of the sectorial tables 602, 604 can be intermittently rotated at aregular angular pitch which is equal to an angle obtained by dividingthe central angle of the table 602, 604 by the maximum number of the CCfeeders 200 that can be attached to the table 602, 604. In this case,respective CC-supply portions of the CC feeders 200 attached to thetable 602, 604 are sequentially positioned at a CC supplying positionwhere each feeder 200 supplies one or more CCs 150 to a CC mountingdevice 14. Each table 602, 604 can also be rotated over to return to itsinitial position where the table 602, 604 starts its CC supplyingoperation. Moreover, each table 602, 604 can be rotated to move to awaiting area which will be described later. When each table 602, 604 isrotated in each of the above-indicated cases, the table 602, 604 isfirst smoothly accelerated and then smoothly decelerated. Accordingly,the bucket 660, 662 and the reel holders 310 accommodated therein aredelayed from the corresponding table 602, 604 and the corresponding mainportions 254, respectively, and are rotated at lower acceleration anddeceleration than those of the table 602, 604 and the devices 254, so asto follow the table 602, 604 and the devices 254. Thus, the present CCsupplying apparatus 600 produces only small vibration for the samereason as that described above with respect to the first embodiment.

The CC supplying apparatus 600 has a cover member 684 which is equippedwith a window 686 which can be opened and closed. Since the window 686is not locked even in an automatic operation, an operator can manuallyopen and close the window 686. The CC supplying apparatus 600 isequipped with two shutter devices (not shown) which cooperate with eachother to divide an operating area from the waiting area. Thus, theoperator is prevented from contacting one sectorial table 602, 604 whichis operating in the operating area. As described later, the CC supplyingapparatus 600 may be operated in such a manner that the two sectorialtables 602, 604 alternately supply the CCs 150 to the CC mounting device14. In this manner, one sectorial table 602, 604 which does not supplythe CCs 150 waits in the waiting area. The waiting area is opposite tothe operating area including the CC supplying position, with respect tothe support shaft 608. The waiting area occupies a space correspondingto just one sectorial table 602, 604. The waiting area functions as anon-operating area in which the table 602, 604 does not operate. Theoperating area occupies a sufficiently large space which allows eachtable 602, 604 to rotate or move therein for sequentially positioningall the feeders 200 attached to the table 602, 604 at the CC supplyingposition for supplying the CCs 150 to the CC mounting device 14. Thus,the operating area functions as a CC supplying area. Since the centralangle of each table 602, 604 is smaller than 120 degrees, one table 602,604 which operates in the operating area does not interfere with theother table 604, 602 which waits in the waiting area, even if the onetable 602, 604 is rotated or moved from its CC-supply starting positionto its CC-supply ending position.

Each of the two shutter devices (not shown) includes a shutter memberwhich is movable up and down. The two shutter members are provided attwo radial boundaries between the waiting area and the operating area,and an elevating and lowering device (not shown) moves the shuttermembers up to their retracted position where the shutter members arepositioned above the sectorial tables 602, 604 and down to their closingposition where the shutter members are positioned adjacent to the CCfeeders 200 attached to one table 602, 604 waiting in the waiting area.

The present CC mounting system 598 including the CC supplying apparatus600 is controlled by the control device 690 shown in FIG. 16. Thecontrol device 690 is essentially provided by a computer, like thecontrol device 520 employed in the first embodiment. The control device690 includes an output interface 534 to which the two table-rotatingservomotors 616, 634 are connected via respective drive circuits 692,694. A ROM 524 of the control device 690 stores various control programswhich are needed for carrying out a CC mounting operation, inparticular, three CC-supply modes which will be described later.

The table-rotating servomotors 616, 634 which are employed as drivesources are electric motors which can be controlled with respect torotation angle, that is, can be rotated by any desired angle. Theservomotors 616, 634 may be replaced by stepper motors.

The CC supplying apparatus 600 supplies the CCs 150 in a selected one ofthree operation modes, that is, a concurrent-table mode, a same-sort-PCBalternate-table mode, and a different-sort-PCB alternate-table mode.

In the concurrent-table mode illustrated in FIG. 17, the two sectorialtables 602, 604 are rotated concurrently with each other. This operationmode is suitable for the case where it is needed to supply many sorts ofCCs 150 the number of which is greater than the maximum number of the CCfeeders 200 that can be attached to one table 602, 604.

In the same-sort-PCB alternate-table mode illustrated in FIG. 18, thetwo sectorial tables 602, 604 carries the same sorts of CC feeders 200,and one table 602, 604 operates as the operating table in the operatingarea for supplying the CCs 150 while the other table 604, 602 waits asthe waiting table in the waiting area. When it is needed to change theoperating and waiting tables with each other, for example, when the CCcarrier tapes 242 have been consumed by the operating table andaccordingly it is needed to supply the operating table with new CCcarrier tapes 242, the waiting table is moved to the operating area soas to operate as the operating table for supplying the CCs 150, and theoperating table is moved to the waiting area so as to wait as thewaiting table to which the operator supplies the new carrier tapes.

In the different-sort-PCB alternate-table mode also illustrated in FIG.18, one sectorial table 602, 604 operates as the operating table in theoperating area for supplying the CCs 150 while the other sectorial table604, 602 waits as the waiting table in the waiting area, and the twotables 602, 604 alternately supply the CCs 150 to the CC mounting device14. However, the sorts of the CC feeders 200 carried on one table 602,604 are different from those of the feeders 200 carried on the othertable 604, 602. When the CC mounting system 598 first mounts CCs 150 onPCBs 20 of a certain sort and then mounts CCs 150 on PCBs 20 of adifferent sort, the operating and waiting tables are changed with eachother, so that the waiting table is moved to the operating area so as tooperate as the operating table for supplying the CCs 150 and theoperating table is moved to the waiting area so as to wait as thewaiting table on which the operator may change one or more of thefeeders 200 attached thereto with a new feeder or feeders 200 suitablefor the different sort of PCBs 20.

Next, there will be described each of the three operation modes in moredetail.

When the CC supplying apparatus 600 supplies the CCs 150 in theconcurrent-table mode, the two sectorial tables 602, 604 are rotatedconcurrently with each other. One of the two tables 602, 604 which iscurrently supplying the CCs 150 is rotated at so controlled accelerationand deceleration as to position each CC feeder 200 at the CC supplyingposition at an appropriate timing relative to the arrival of eachCC-holding head 64 at a CC sucking position of the CC mounting device14. When the preceding one of the two tables 602, 604 supplies the CCs150, the following table 604, 602 is rotated at lower acceleration anddeceleration than those of the preceding table 602, 604. In the presentoperation manner, the two tables 602, 604 are rotated concurrently witheach other, and accordingly a great inertia is applied to the CCsupplying apparatus 600. However, since the two tables are rotated atdifferent accelerations and decelerations, the generation of vibrationcan be small. The two tables 602, 604 are not completely separated fromeach other, because the following table can catch up with the precedingtable while the preceding table is kept stopped for each feeder 200 tosupply a CC 150. When the preceding table is rotated in the reversedirection for some reason, the following table is also rotated in thereverse direction at the same acceleration and deceleration as those ofthe preceding one. Thus, the two tables 602, 604 are prevented fromcolliding with each other.

After the CC feeders 200 carried on the preceding sectorial table 602,604 have finished supplying the CCs 150, the feeders 200 on thefollowing table starts supplying the CCs 150. When the two tables 602,604 are changed with each other, the following one is rotated at thesame acceleration and deceleration as those of the preceding one, sothat one feeder 200 which first supplies one or more CCs 150 is quicklypositioned at the CC supplying position. The preceding table which hasfinished supplying the CCs 150 is moved to a waiting area which is thesame as used in each of the two alternate-table modes, and waits for thefollowing table to finish supplying the CCs 150. In the concurrent-tablemode, the respective shutter members of the two shutter devices are keptopened or retracted.

After the following table has finished supplying the CCs 150, the twotables 602, 604 are moved to their initial position where one of the CCfeeders 200 on the preceding table which first supplies one or more CCs150 is positioned at the CC supplying position, so that the two tables602, 604 supplies CCs 150 which are to be mounted on another PCB 20.When the two tables 602, 604 are returned to their initial position, thetables 602, 604 are rotated in the same direction as that in which thetables are rotated for supplying the CCs 150.

The control device 590 counts the number of the CCs 150 supplied by eachof the CC feeders 200 on each of the two sectorial tables 602, 604 and,if the counted number has reached a reference number indicating that theCC carrier tape 242 being fed by that feeder 200 will soon be completelyconsumed, the control device 590 generates a CC-supply command signal tocommand the CC supplying apparatus 600 to move the table 602, 604carrying that feeder 200 to the waiting area, so that the operator maysupply that feeder 200 with a new carrier tape 242. A portion of thecontrol device 590 which counts the number of the CCs 150 supplied byeach feeder 200 and judges whether the counted number has reached thereference number provides judging means for judging whether all the CCs150 have been consumed; and a portion of the control device 590 whichgenerates the CC-supply command signal provides generating means forgenerating the CC-supply command signal. Alternatively, the completeconsumption of the CCs 150 on each feeder 200 may be detected by meansfor detecting the number of marks which are fixed to each CC carriertape 242. The operator must not supply each feeder 200 with a new CCcarrier tape 242, before the CC supplying apparatus 600 has supplied allthe CCs 150 to be mounted on one PCB 20.

When the control device 590 rotates the table 602, 604 to the waitingarea where the table 602, 604 is supplied with a new CC carrier tape 242from the operator, the control device 590 selects one of oppositedirections such that the angle of rotation of the table to the waitingarea in the selected direction is smaller than that in the otherdirection. After the table 602, 604 is moved to the waiting area, theoperator opens the window 686 and changes one or more feeders 200 whosecarrier tape or tapes 242 has or have been completely consumed, with afeeder or feeders 200 which feeds or feed a new CC carrier tape or tapes242. After the changing of the feeders 200, the window 486 is closed.When a start button is operated, the CC supplying apparatus 600 resumesthe CC supplying operation. The operator can manually rotate the table602, 604 to an appropriate angular position where he or she can easilychange the used feeders 200 with new feeders 200.

In the case where one or more CC feeders 200 on one sectorial table 602and one or more CC feeders 200 on the other sectorial table 604simultaneously need the supply of new CC carrier tapes 242, the operatorcan simultaneously change all the used feeders 200 with new feeders 200.When one or more feeders 200 on the preceding table 602, 604 need thesupply of new carrier tapes 242, the operator can change, on thepreceding table 602, 604 only, the used feeders 200 with new feeders200. If one or more feeders 200 on the following table 604, 602 generatethe CC-supply command signals in addition to one or more feeders 200 onthe preceding feeder 602, 604, the operator can change, on the followingtable 604, 602 as well, the used feeders 200 with new feeders 200.

When the CC supplying apparatus 600 is operated in the same-sort-PCBalternate-table mode, the two sectorial tables 602, 604 alternatelysupply the CCs 150. While one table 602, 604 supplies the CCs 150, theother table 604, 602 waits in the waiting area. Accordingly, while theoperating table 602, 604 supplies the CCs 150, the operator can change,on the waiting table 604, 602, one or more used feeders 200 with newfeeders 200. Since the window 686 is not locked while one table 602, 604supplies the CCs 150, the operator can open the window 686. Since thetwo shutter members are held closed, the operator who can see theboundaries between the waiting and operating areas can prevent himselfor herself from contacting the operating table 602, 604.

When one or more CC feeders 200 on the operating table 602, 604 need thesupply of new CC carrier tapes 242, the feeders 200 generate theCC-supply command signals to the control device 590, which changes theoperating and waiting tables 602, 604 with each other. This table changeoccurs after all the CCs 150 to be supplied to one PCB 20 are actuallysupplied. If the change of one or more feeders 200 is going on in thewaiting area when one or more CC-supply command signals are generated,the control device 590 stops the CC mounting operation of the CCmounting system 598. When the operator operates the start button afterfinishing the feeder change and closing the window 686, the controldevice 590 changes the waiting and operating tables 604, 602 with eachother, and resumes the CC supplying and mounting operations. Inaddition, the operator changes, on the waiting table, the used feeders200 with new feeders 200. Since the two shutter members are held opened,the table change is allowed. After the table change, the shutter membersare closed.

If the change of one or more CC feeders 200 has already been finished inthe waiting area when one or more CC-supply signals are generated, thecontrol device 590 immediately opens the shutter members and changes theoperating and waiting tables 602, 604 with each other.

When the CC supplying apparatus 600 is operated in thedifferent-sort-PCB alternate-table mode, one of the two sectorial tables602, 604 supplies the CCs 150 in the operating area, while the othertable 604, 602 waits in the waiting area where the operator may changeone or more CC feeders 200 with one or more different feeders 200 whichare suitable for the sort of the PCBs 20 to be used next. When one ormore feeders 200 on the operating table 602, 604 needs the supply of newCC carrier tapes, the operating table is moved to the waiting area wherethe used feeders 200 are changed with new feeders 200. If the change ofone or more feeders 200 is going on on the waiting table 604, 602, thefeeder change is interrupted.

After the window 686 is closed, the shutter members are opened. Thewaiting table 602, 604 is moved to the operating area, and the operatingtable 604, 602 is moved to the waiting area. After the window 686 isopened, the used feeders 200 on the operating table 604, 602 are changedwith new feeders 200. When the window 686 is closed after the feederchange, the operating table 604, 602 is moved to the operating area toresume the CC supplying operation. Concurrently, the waiting table 602,604 is moved to the waiting area, and the shutter members are closed. Inthe case where the feeder change has been interrupted on the waitingtable 602, 604, the feeder change is resumed.

When the current sort of PCBs 20 are changed to a different sort of PCBs20, the shutter members are opened, and the operating and waiting tables602, 604 are changed with each other, so that the waiting table 604, 602is changed to the operating table 604, 602 to supply CCs 150 and theoperating table 602, 604 is changed to the waiting table 602, 604 onwhich one or more feeders 200 are changed, as needed.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, in the presentembodiment, a portion of the control device 590 which concurrentlyrotates and stops the two sectorial tables 602, 604 and sequentiallypositions the CC feeders 200 held by the tables 602, 604, at the CCsupplying position, provides concurrent-table-mode control means; and aportion of the control device 590 which controls the following table602, 604 to follow the preceding table 604, 602 at acceleration anddeceleration lower than those of the preceding table, providesslow-following control means. In addition, a portion of the controldevice 590 which controls one of the two sectorial tables 602, 604 tooperate as the operating table and controls the other table 604, 602 towait in the waiting area and which changes the operating and waitingtables 602, 604 with each other, as needed, providesalternate-table-mode control means. The alternate-table-mode controlmeans functions as not only means for changing the operating and waitingtables 602, 604 with each other, depending on the sort of the PCB 20 tobe used next, but also means for changing the operating and waitingtables 602, 604 with each other, in response to a signal indicating thatone or more feeders 200 on the operating table need the supply of new CCcarrier tapes 242.

When the CC supplying apparatus 600 is operated in the concurrent-tablemode in the case where the sum of respective central angles of the twosectorial tables 602, 604 is smaller than 180 degrees, it is possiblethat after the preceding table finishes supplying the CCs 150, thepreceding table be moved to an area between the CC supplying positionand its opposite position remote by 180 degrees therefrom in thedirection of rotation of the two tables 602, 604 for supplying the CCs150. In this case, after the following table finished supplying the CCs150, the two tables 602, 604 may be returned to their initial positionby being rotated in the reverse direction opposite to the direction ofrotation thereof for supplying the CCs 150.

In each of the first and second embodiments, the guide members 350, 352which guide the CC carrier tape 242 are provided by the curvedplate-like members. Accordingly, the carrier tape 242 is fed forwardwhile being guided by the guide members 350, 352 in such a manner thatthe widthwise direction of the tape 242 is substantially parallel to thedirection in which the main portion 254 and the reel holder 310 aremoved relative to each other. However, it is possible that the portionof the carrier tape 242 which corresponds to the connecting device 312be fed forward in such a manner that the widthwise direction of thatportion is substantially perpendicular to the above-indicated direction.

In this connection, FIGS. 19 and 20 shows a third embodiment of thepresent invention, which relates to a CC supplying apparatus including aCC feeder 200 which is equipped with two guide members 700 in place ofthe guide members 350, 352 employed in the preceding embodiments. One ofthe two guide members 700 is fixed to an upper projection 338 of a sidewall 318 of a reel holder 310, and the other guide member 700 is fixedto a support member 332 fixed to a lower surface of a main member 250 ofthe feeder 200. Each of the two guide members 700 has a flatthrough-hole formed through the thickness thereof, and is fixed to themember 338 or 332 such that the flat through-hole is inclined by 45degrees with respect to the plane of a connecting member or plate 330,as shown in FIG. 20. The dimensions of the flat through-hole permit theCC carrier tape 242 to pass therethrough but do not permit the tape 242to be turned upside down therein. The CC feeder 200 is additionallyequipped with two second guide members 702 one of which is fixed to aportion of the upper projection 338 above the lower guide member 700 andthe other of which is fixed to a portion of the support member 332 belowthe upper guide member 700. Each of the two guide members 702 has a flatthrough-hole formed through the thickness thereof, and is fixed to themember 338 or 332 such that the flat through-hole extends parallel tothe plane of the connecting plate 330, as shown in FIG. 20. Thedimensions of the flat through-hole permit the CC carrier tape 242 topass therethrough but do not permit the tape 242 to be turned upsidedown therein. A third guide member 704 which is provided by a curvedplate-like member is fixed to the support member 332.

The through-holes of the guide members 700, 702 have a length (i.e.,dimension in a direction parallel to the axis line of a rotary table202, 602, 604) which assures that at least one CC-accommodating pocketof the embossed-type CC carrier tape 242 is always present in eachthrough hole.

The operator draws the CC carrier tape 242 from the tape reel 308 andintroduces the tape 242 into the main member 250 via the guide members700, 702. When the carrier tape 242 is passed through the lower firstguide member 700, the tape 242 is twisted by 45 degrees; and when thetape 242 is passed through the lower second guide member 702, the tape242 is further twisted by 45 degrees in the same direction. Thus, thetape 242 is twisted by 90 degrees in total. Between the two second guidemembers 702, the tape 242 is fed forward with being twisted by the 90degrees. When tape 242 is passed through the upper first guide member700, the tape 242 is twisted back by 45 degrees; and when the tape 242is passed through the third guide member 704, the tape 242 is furthertwisted back by 45 degrees in the same direction. Thus, the tape 242 istwisted back by 90 degrees in total.

In this way, the portion of the CC carrier tape 242 which is locatedbetween the main portion 254 and the tape reel 308 of the CC feeder 200and which is bent substantially along the connecting member 330 when thereel holder 310 is moved relative to the main portion 254, takes anattitude that the widthwise direction of that portion is perpendicularto the direction in which the holder 310 is moved relative to the mainportion 254. Accordingly, when the holder 310 is moved relative to themain portion 254, the tape 242 is easily bent substantially along theconnecting member 330. Thus, the tape 242 can be smoothly fed forwardwhile the holder 310 is moved relative to the main portion 254. Inaddition, the tape 242 is effectively prevented from being interferedwith by the connecting device 312 of each of two adjacent CC feeders200.

In each of the illustrated embodiments, each binder delaying andreturning device 450, 676 is provided by the two shock absorbers 452 and454, or 678 and 679, which are opposed to each other. The two shockabsorbers may be replaced by a single shock absorber 720 as a binderdelaying and returning device shown in FIG. 21.

The shock absorber 720 includes a piston 726 which is liquid-tightly andslideably fit in a cylindrical bore 724 of a housing 722 fixed to arotary table 202, 602, 604. Two piston rods 728, 730 project from thepiston 726 in opposite directions, respectively, so that the two pistonrods 728, 730 project outward from the housing 722. The second pistonrod 730 is fixed to an engagement portion 456 of a bucket 400, 660, 662.A first and a second liquid chamber 732, 734 are provided on both sidesof the piston 726, respectively, and a first and a second compressioncoil spring 736, 738 each as an elastic member as a biasing device areprovided in the first and second liquid chambers 732, 734, respectively.The two springs 732, 734 are identical with each other. The piston 726has a passage 740 which communicates or connects between the first andsecond fluid chambers 732, 734, and a restrictor 742 provided in thepassage 740.

When the rotary table 202, 602, 604 is rotated, for example, when thetable is rotated rightward in FIG. 21, the housing 722 is moved with thetable, so that the piston 726 is moved leftward relative to the housing722 while compressing the first spring 736. Simultaneously, the secondspring 738 is expanded, so that the bucket and the reel holders 310 ofthe CC feeders 200 bounded thereby are delayed from the table and themain portions 254 of the feeders 200.

When the inertial force to delay the bucket 400, 660, 662 and the reelholders 310 from the rotary table 202, 602, 604 and the main portions254 is balanced by the biasing force of the first spring 736, the bucketis rotated, because of the biasing force of the first spring 736, in adirection to follow the rotary table. The movement of the piston 726relative to the housing 722 is permitted since the liquid (e.g., oil)flows from the first chamber 732 into the second chamber 734. However,since the flowing of the liquid is restricted or resisted by therestrictor 742, the bucket is rotated at a speed lower than that of thetable. That is, the bucket is moved at an acceleration and adeceleration lower than an acceleration and a deceleration at which thetable is moved. This arrangement contributes to reducing the vibrationwhich is generated when the bucket follows the table.

When the rotary table 202, 602, 604 is rotated in the oppositedirection, i.e., leftward in FIG. 21, the second spring 738 iscompressed, and the bucket 400, 660, 662 is moved by the biasing forceof the spring 738 to follow the table while the acceleration anddeceleration of the bucket are decreased by the effect of the restrictor742.

In the first embodiment, the bucket 400 is connected to the circulartable 202 by the binder-connecting devices 402, each of which includesthe two hinge devices 414, such that the bucket 400 is rotatablerelative to the table 202. However, the binder-connecting devices 402may be replaced by two guide members 760, 762, shown in FIG. 22, whichare fixed to a circular table 202 and a bucket 400, respectively, andwhich are engaged with each other such that the two guide members 760,762 are rotatable relative to each other.

The first guide member 760 is provided by an annular member having aT-shaped cross section, and includes an engagement projection 764. Thefirst guide member 760 is concentrically fixed to a lower surface of thecircular table 202. The second guide member 762 is also provided by anannular member having an engagement groove 766 with a T-shaped crosssection. The engagement projection 764 is engaged with the engagementgroove 766 such that the projection 764 is movable relative to thegroove 768 in the circumferential direction of the circular table 202and such that the projection 764 is not disengageable from the groove768. The second guide member 762 is fixed to the bucket 400. When thecircular table 202 is rotated, the two guide members 760, 762 arerotated relative to each other, so that the bucket 400 is rotatedrelative to the table 202.

Each of the two annular guide members 760, 762 may be replaced by aplurality of part-annular guide members which are fixed to a pluralityof locations of a corresponding one of the table 202 and the bucket 400.Alternatively, only one of the two annular guide members 760, 762 may beprovided by a plurality of part-annular guide members which are fixed toa plurality of locations of the table 202 or the bucket 400.

In the case where the binder-connecting device is provided by the twoguide members 760, 762 as described above, a biasing device or member isemployed for returning the reel-holding-portion binder or bucket 400 toits reference phase relative to the table 202. In addition, a dampingdevice or member may be employed.

In the first or second embodiment, when the rotary table 202, 602, 604is rotated, the entirety of the reel-holding portion 310 of each CCfeeder 200 is parallel-translated relative to the main portion 254 ofthat feeder 200, in a direction substantially parallel to the directionof movement of the feeder 200 caused by the rotation of the table.However, in another embodiment shown in FIG. 23, each CC feeder 784includes a reel holder 780 as a reel-holding portion which is connectedto a main portion 782 of that feeder 784 such that the reel holder 780is pivotable relative to the main portion 782 about an axis lineperpendicular to the direction of movement of the feeder 784 caused bythe rotation of a rotary table 202, 602, 604.

The reel holder 780 and the main portion 782 of each CC feeder 784 areidentical with the reel holder 310 and the main portion 254 of each CCfeeder 200. The main portion 782 is held by the rotary table (e.g., thesectorial table 602, 604). The reel holder 780 includes a reel container786, and an axis member (not shown) which supports a reel 308 such thatthe reel 308 is rotatable about the axis member. The reel container 786is connected to the main portion 782 via an axis member 788 such thatthe reel container 786 is pivotable relative to the main portion 782,about an axis line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the CCfeeder 784.

The reel container 786 of each reel holder 780 has a pair of sidesurfaces 792 as respective outer surfaces of two side walls whichcooperate with each other to support the axis member which supports thereel 308. A cushion member 794 is fixed to a lower end portion of eachof the side surfaces 792. The cushion members 794 are formed of a foammaterial such as urethane foam. A rubber layer 796 as a material havinga high friction coefficient is provided on the surface of each cushionmember 794. The distance between each pair of adjacent reel containers780 is prescribed such that in the state in which the reel holders 780are not rotated relative to the main portions 782, a small clearance isleft between the respective rubber layers 796 of the cushion members 794of the adjacent reel holders 780.

When the rotary table 202, 602, 604 is rotated and the main portions 782are moved with the table in a direction indicated at arrow in FIG. 23,the reel holders 780 are delayed from the main portions 782, as shown inFIG. 24, because the holders 780 are pivoted about the axis members 788,respectively. The distance between each pair of adjacent reel holders780 is decreased, and eventually the two reel holders 780 collide witheach other. However, since the cushion members 794 are provided on thereel holders 780, only small sound is produced. When the reel holders780 are further rotated, the cushion members 794 are compressed, the tworeel holders 780 are moved relative to each other in a directionparallel to the side surfaces 792 thereof. Since, however, the two reelholders 780 are moved relative to each other while being held in contactwith each other via the rubber layers 796, the swinging or vibration ofthe holders 780 is attenuated. When the reel holders 780 are pivotedrelative to the main portions 782 while being delayed from the same 782,the reel holders 780 store a potential energy, which will causethemselves to return to their reference phase relative to the table. Thesum of the respective dimensions of the reel holders 780 in thedirection in which the respective component-supply portions of the CCfeeders are arranged, increases when the rotary table is rotated. In thecase where the rotary table is the sectorial table 602, 604, thisincrease is easily allowed; and in the case where the rotary table isthe circular table, the increase is allowed if a sufficient clearance isprovided between each pair of adjacent reel holders 780.

Also in the embodiment, shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, wherein the reelholder 780 is connected to the main portion 782 such that the reelholder 780 is pivotable relative to the main portion 782, it is possiblethat the respective reel holders 780 of the CC feeders 784 be bound by areel-holder binder. For example, in an embodiment shown in FIGS. 25 to27, each of CC feeders includes a reel holder 800, and the reel holder800 includes a reel container 802. The reel container 802 has an endsurface 804 which is remote from an axis line about which a rotary table202, 602, 604 to which the CC feeders are attached is rotatable. Anengagement pin 806 projects radially outward from the end surface 804 ofthe reel container 802 of each CC feeder. A circular or arcuatereel-holder binder 808 is engaged with the respective pins 806 of the CCfeeders. Each pin 806 includes a large-diameter head portion 814 and asmall-diameter shaft portion 812. The binder 808 has a predeterminedthickness, does not have flexibility, and is formed of a rigid material.The binder 808 has, as engagement portions thereof, a plurality ofU-shaped recesses 810 which are formed at a plurality of positionscorresponding to the plurality of reel holders 800, respectively, andeach of which opens in a lower surface of the binder 808. The recesses810 of the binder 808 are engaged with the respective shaft portions 12of the pins 806, such that the reel holders 800 are pivotable relativeto the binder 808. The respective head portions 814 of the pins 806prevent the binder 808 from coming off the corresponding shaft portions812 of the pins 806 in respective radial directions parallel torespective axis lines of the pins 806.

Thus, a clearance is provided between each pair of adjacent reel holders800. Those clearances are maintained even when the reel holders 800 arepivoted relative to corresponding main portions 816, respectively. Whenthe rotary table 202, 602, 604 is rotated and the reel holders 800 arepivoted relative to the maim portions 816 about respective axis members818, as shown in FIG. 27, each pair of adjacent reel holders 800 do notcollide with each other. That is, the reel holders 800 are connected toeach other by the binder 808, such that the holders 808 are preventedfrom swinging independent of each other and accordingly colliding witheach other. Meanwhile, since the binder 808 and the reel holders 808 areslightly moved up when the holders 800 are pivoted relative to the mainportions 816, the binder 808 and the holders 800 store a potentialenergy, which causes those elements 808, 800 to move back to theirreference phase relative to the rotary table.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 25 to 27 wherein the reel holders 800are connected to each other by the reel-holder binder 808, it ispossible that a cushion member be provided on each of opposite sidesurfaces of each of the reel containers 802. In this case, even if thecushion members may collide with each other, the generation of noise isminimized. In addition, since the cushion members can be compressedafter the collision, the reel holders 800 are allowed to be furtherpivoted. In the case where the cushion members are formed of a materialhaving a high friction coefficient, or in the case where the cushionmembers have respective layers each having a high friction coefficient,the vibration of the reel holders 800 is attenuated. Alternatively, likeeach of the first, second, and fourth embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-18and 21, it is possible to employ at least one binder delay-and-returndevice which includes at least one biasing device or at least onedamping device and which returns the binder 808 to its reference phasewhile reducing the speed of returning movement of the binder 808.

In each of the illustrated embodiments, the reel holders 310, 780, 800may be connected to each other by a flexible reel-holder binder which isformed of, e.g., rubber. In this case, too, the reel holders areprevented from swinging independent of each other. Since the flexiblebinder can be elastically expanded after each pair of adjacent reelholders contact each other, the reel holders are allowed to be furtherpivoted relative to the main portions 254, 782, 816. In the case wherethe reel holders are provided with cushion members, the generation ofnoise is minimized even if the reel holders may collide with each other.If the cushion members are formed of a material having a high frictioncoefficient, or if the cushion members have respective layers eachhaving a high friction coefficient, the amplitude of vibration (i.e.,pivotal movement) of the reel holders is attenuated because of thefriction between the cushion members.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the cushion members 794 maybe entirely formed of a material having a high friction coefficient. Inthis case, too, the vibration of the reel holders 780 is attunuated bythe friction of the cushion members 794. In the case where the rotarytable is the sectorial table 602, 604, the increase of the sum of therespective dimensions of the reel holders 780 in the direction ofrotation of the table is easily allowed. In the case where the rotarytable is the circular table 202, the above increase is allowed, e.g., ifeach pair of adjacent reel holders 780 has a sufficient spacetherebetween which assures that the holders 780 do not collide with eachother when the table 202 is rotated. In the case where only a smallernumber of CC feeders than the maximum number of feeders that can bemounted on the circular table 202, are mounted on the table 202, suchthat the group of feeders exhibits a sectorial shape, the above increaseis easily allowed. In the last case, too, the circular table 202 can beused.

In the second embodiment wherein the CC supplying apparatus 598 employsthe two sectorial tables 602, 604, it is not essentially required thatin the concurrent-table mode, the two sectorial tables be rotatedtogether with each other throughout each CC supplying operation. Forexample, the two tables may be operated such that while one table isoperating in the operating area, the other table is waiting in thewaiting area and, immediately before the CC supplying operation usingthe one table finishes, the other table is moved to follow the one tableso that the two tables are rotated together with each other.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, the four connectingdevices 402 and the four binder delay-and-return devices 450 areemployed between the bucket 400 and the circular table 202. However,each number is not limited to four. For example, it is possible toemploy two, three, five or more connecting devices 402 and one, two,three, five or more binder delay-and-return devices 450. As the totalnumber of the binder delay-and-return devices 450 employed increases,the strength of the bucket 400 which may be employed decreases. Sincethe devices 450 share at least a portion of the inertial forces of thereel holders 310 which should be received by the bucket 400, the morethe devices 450 are, the more portion of the inertial forces the devices450 can share.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 to 18, the three connectingdevices 668 and the two binder delay-and-return devices 676 are employedbetween each bucket 660, 662 and the corresponding sectorial table 602,604. However, those numbers are not limited to three and two,respectively. For example, it is possible to employ two, four or moreconnecting devices 668 and one, three or more binder delay-and-returndevices 676.

In each of the illustrated embodiments, it is made a general rule torotate the rotary table 202, 602, 604 in one direction only forsupplying the circuit components 150 to the PCB 20. However, it ispossible to make it a general rule to rotate the rotary table 202, 602,604 in both directions for supplying the components 150. For example, inthe case where the total number of circuit components 150 to be suppliedto each PCB 20 of a certain sort is small and the total number of CCfeeders needed to supply the components 150 to the each PCB 20 issmaller than the maximum number of feeders that can be attached to thecircular table 202, all the feeders can be attached to only a portion ofthe table 202. In this case, after the table 202 is rotated in onedirection to sequentially position the respective component-supplyportions of the feeders at the component supplying position and therebysupply the circuit components 150 to one PCB 20, the table 202 may berotated in the reverse direction to sequentially position thecomponent-supply portions of the feeders in the reverse order at thecomponent supplying position and thereby supply the components 150 toanother PCB 20 of the same sort. Thus, it is not needed to return thecircular table 202 to its component-supply starting position after thetable 202 has been rotated in the one direction for supplying all thenecessary components 150 to the one PCB 20. In contrast, this returningoperation would needed if the table 202 is rotated in one directiononly. Thus, the component-supplying efficiency is improved. In the casewhere the circular table 202 is rotated in one direction only, if thecentral angle defined by all the feeders attached to the table 202 issmaller than 180 degrees, the angle by which the table 202 is rotated inthe one direction for returning to its component-supply startingposition is greater than that by which the table 202 is rotated in thereverse direction. Therefore, if the table 202 is rotated in the reversedirection, the table 202 can return to its starting position in ashorter time. However, this shorter time cannot be zeroed. Thus, in thecase where the components 150 are supplied to the PCBs 20 not only whenthe table 202 is rotated in one direction but also when the table 202 isrotated in the reverse direction, no time is needed for just returningthe table 202 to its starting position, which leads to improving thecomponent-supplying efficiency. Even though the central angle defined byall the feeders on the table 202 may be greater than 180 degrees (andsmaller than 360 degrees), no time is needed for returning the table 202to its starting position, if the components 150 are supplied also whenthe table 202 is rotated in the reverse direction. Thus, thecomponent-supplying efficiency is improved. Meanwhile, it is possible toattach, to the circular table 202, a plurality of groups of CC feederscorresponding to a plurality of sorts of PCBs 20, respectively. In thiscase, the table 202 may be rotated in both directions for supplyingcomponents 150 from each group of feeders to the corresponding sort ofPCBs 20. The sectorial table or tables 602, 604 may be operated in asimilar manner that the feeders 200 held thereby supply the components150 not only when the table or tables is or are rotated in one directionbut also when the table or tables is or are rotated in the reversedirection.

In each of the illustrated embodiments, the reel holders 310, 780, 800and the bucket 400, 660, 662 are delayed from the main portions 254,782, 816 and the table 202, 602, 604, respectively, and accordingly thevibration of the holders and the bucket is reduced, irrespective of inwhich direction the table is rotated. However, in the case where it ismade a general rule to rotate the table in one direction only, it ispossible to employ only one biasing device and only one damping device.In this case, the biasing device and the damping device are providedbetween the bucket and the table such that the biasing device is locatedon the upstream side of the damping device in the direction of rotationof the table. The damping device may be a directional damper whichcontrols the speed of movement of the reel-holder binder 400, 660, 662when the binder returns to its reference phase, at a value smaller thanthat when the binder moves away from the reference phase.

In each of the illustrated embodiments, each reel holder 310, 780, 800has the axis member 320 which supports the reel 308 around which the CCcarrier tape 242 is wound, such that the reel is rotatable about theaxis member. However, the reel 308 may be rotatably supported by, e.g.,a plurality of rollers which are provided in the reel container 314,786, 802 such that the rollers are rotatable about respective axis lineseach parallel to the direction of width of the reel holder.

The embossed-type CC carrier tape 242 may be one which includes a pairof side base tapes and a central base tape which is supported by the twoside base tapes. The central base tape has a number of CC-accommodatingportions which project downward from the two side base tapes and whichdefine a number of CC-accommodating pockets, respectively, at a regularinterval of distance. However, the embossed-type CC carrier tape 242 maybe replaced by a different CC carrier tape. For example, the CC carriertape may be one which includes (a) a CC-accommodating tape having aconstant thickness and having a number of CC-accommodating pockets at aregular interval in which a number of circuit components 150 areaccommodated, respectively; and (b) a cover tape which covers respectiveupper openings of the CC-accommodating pockets for preventing thecomponents 150 from jumping out of the pockets. In the last case, the CCcarrier tape is fed forward in the state in which the entire width ofthe CC-accommodating tape is entirely supported on the guide surface ofthe main portion 254, 782, 802 of each feeder.

In each of the illustrated embodiments, the rotary table or tables 202,602, 604 is or are employed as the movable table or tables. However, themovable table or tables may be one or more linearly movable tables eachof which holds a plurality of CC feeders such that the respectiveCC-supply portions of the feeders are arranged along a straight line andwhich is movable in opposite directions parallel to the straight line.The linearly movable table or tables may be one or ones each of which ismoved to any desired position in each of the opposite directions, by atable-driving device including a servomotor as its drive source, afeeding screw, and a nut, so that the respective CC-supply portions ofthe feeders held thereby are sequentially positioned at a predeterminedcomponent supplying position. The linearly movable table or tables areused with one or more reel-holder (or reel-holding-portion) binders andone or more binder delay-and-return devices, like the rotary table ortables 202, 602, 604. It may be made a general rule to supply thecircuit components from the linearly movable table or tables when thetable or tables is or are moved in only a predetermined one of theopposite directions, or when the table is moved in each of the oppositedirections. In the case where two or more linearly movable tables areemployed, those tables may be operated in arbitrarily selected one ofthe three control modes which are described above in connection with thesecond embodiment shown in FIGS. 14-18.

The present invention may be embodied in such a manner that one or moreelements of each one of the illustrated embodiments are combined withone or more elements of one or more other embodiments.

It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied withother changes, improvements, and modifications that may occur to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A circuit-component supplying apparatuscomprising: a plurality of feeders each of which stores a plurality ofcircuit components of a same sort and which supplies the components oneby one from a component-supply portion thereof; a movable table whichholds the feeders such that the respective component-supply portions ofthe feeders are arranged along a line and which is movable with thefeeders in a direction parallel to said line; and a table-driving devicewhich moves and stops the movable table to position the component-supplyportion of each of the feeders at a predetermined component-supplyingposition, the feeders comprising at least one connected feeder whichcomprises a main portion, a component holding portion and a connectingdevice, wherein (1) said main portion comprises (a) the component-supplyportion of said connected feeder, (b) a frame member which is held bythe movable table so that the main portion is not movable relative tothe movable table in said direction parallel to said line, and (c) afeeding mechanism which is supported by the frame member and feeds thecircuit components one by one to the component-supply portion of saidconnected feeder, (2) said component-holding portion holds the circuitcomponents such that the components are fed to the component-supplyportion of the main portion by the feeding mechanism, and (3) saidconnecting device connects the component-holding portion to the mainportion such that when the main portion is moved with the movable tablein said direction parallel to said line, the component-holding portionfollows the main portion while the connecting device allows a center ofgravity of the component-holding portion and the circuit components heldthereby to be moved relative to the main portion in a directionsubstantially parallel to said line.
 2. An apparatus according to claim1, wherein the connecting device comprises means for connecting thecomponent-holding portion of said connected feeder to the main portionthereof such that a whole of the component-holding portion issubstantially parallel-translateable relative to the main portion in thedirection substantially parallel to said line.
 3. An apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the component-holding portion of said connectedfeeder comprises a reel-holding portion which holds a reel around whicha tape carrying the circuit components is wound, and wherein thereel-holding portion is pendent from the main portion of said connectedfeeder such that a whole of the reel is positioned below the mainportion.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feederscomprises a plurality of said connected feeders, and wherein theapparatus further comprises a component-holding-portion binder includinga plurality of engaging portions which are engaged with thecomponent-holding portions of the connected feeders, respectively, suchthat the component-holding-portion binder is substantially immovablerelative to the component-holding portions in the directionsubstantially parallel to said line.
 5. An apparatus according to claim4, further comprising a shock-absorbing following-causing device whichcauses the component-holding-portion binder to follow the movable tablebeing moved, while absorbing a shock produced by the binder followingthe table.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein theshock-absorbing following-causing device comprises a delay-allowing andreturning device which allows, when the movable table is accelerated,the component-holding-portion binder to delay from a reference phasethereof relative to the table, and which returns, when the accelerationof the table continues to be zero, the binder to the reference phasethereof relative to the table.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6,wherein the delay-allowing and returning device comprises a biasingdevice which biases, between the component-holding-portion binder andthe movable table, the binder toward the reference phase thereofrelative to the table; and a damping device which reduces a speed of themovement of the binder relative to the table.
 8. An apparatus accordingto claim 4, wherein the component-holding-portion binder comprises abucket which opens upward and which accommodates the respectivecomponent-holding portions of the connected feeders.
 9. An apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the delay-allowing and returning devicecomprises: at least one connecting member which extends in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to a direction in which the movable table ismoved by the table-driving device; a first hinge device which connectsone of opposite end portions of the connecting member to the movabletable, such that the connecting member is pivotable about a first axisline which is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movabletable; and a second hinge device which connects the other end portion ofthe connecting member to the component-holding-portion holder, such thatthe connecting member is pivotable about a second axis line which isperpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable table andwhich is distant from the first axis line in the direction substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable table.
 10. Anapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the movable table comprises arotary table which is rotatable about a first axis line which issubstantially vertical, and wherein at least one of the connectingmember and the first and second hinge devices of the delay-allowing andreturning device comprises relative-rotation allowing means for allowingthe component-holding-portion binder to be rotated relative to therotary table, about a second axis line of the connecting member parallelto the first axis line, when the binder is rotated relative to the tableabout the first axis line.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10,wherein the connecting member comprises a torsion member which iselastically twistable about an axis line thereof as the second axisline, and which allows the component-holding portion of said connectedfeeder to be rotated relative to the main portion thereof about thesecond axis line.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theconnecting device comprises: at least one connecting member whichextends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction inwhich the movable table is moved by the table-driving device; a firsthinge device which connects one of opposite end portions of theconnecting member to the main portion of said connected feeder, suchthat the connecting member is pivotable about a first axis line which isperpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable table; and asecond hinge device which connects the other end portion of theconnecting member to the component-holding portion of said connectedfeeder, such that the connecting member is pivotable about a second axisline which is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movabletable and which is distant from the first axis line in the directionsubstantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movabletable.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main portionof said connected feeder is elongate in a substantially horizontaldirection perpendicular to a direction in which the movable table ismoved by the table-driving device, and wherein said connected feedercomprises a pendent feeder whose component-holding portion is pendentfrom an intermediate portion of the elongate main portion thereof. 14.An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the main portion of saidpendent feeder includes a held portion which is located on one side ofthe intermediate portion thereof and which is held by the movable table.15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the main portion of saidpendent feeder includes the component-supply portion thereof which islocated on the other side of the intermediate portion of the mainportion and is distant from the held portion of the main portion.
 16. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable table comprises arotary table which is rotatable about a first axis line which issubstantially vertical.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 16, whereinthe main portion of said connected feeder is elongate in a substantiallyhorizontal direction perpendicular to a direction in which the movabletable is moved by the table-driving device, and wherein the main portionincludes a held portion which is nearer to the first axis line than thecomponent-supply portion thereof and which is held by the movable table.18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the connecting devicecomprises relative-rotation allowing means for allowing thecomponent-holding portion of said connected feeder to be rotatedrelative to the main portion thereof about a second axis line parallelto the first axis line.
 19. An apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe connecting device comprises means for connecting thecomponent-holding portion of said connected feeder to the main portionthereof such that the component-holding portion is pivotable relative tothe main portion about an axis line perpendicular to a direction inwhich the movable table is moved by the table-driving device.
 20. Afeeder for storing a plurality of circuit components of a same sort andsupplying the components one by one from a component-supply portionthereof, the feeder comprising: a main portion comprising (a) thecomponent-supply portion, (b) a frame member which is adapted to be heldby a movable table so that the main portion is not movable relative tothe movable table, and (c) a feeding mechanism which is supported by theframe member and feeds the circuit components one by one to thecomponent-supply portion; a component-holding portion which holds thecircuit components and from which the components are fed to thecomponent-supply portion of the main portion by the feeding mechanism;and a connecting device which connects the component-holding portion tothe main portion such that when the main portion is moved with themovable table, the component-holding portion follows the main portionwhile the connecting device allows a center of gravity of thecomponent-holding portion and the circuit components held thereby to bemoved relative to the main portion in a direction substantially parallelto a direction in which the movable table is moved.
 21. A feederaccording to claim 20, wherein the main portion is elongate in adirection parallel to a direction in which the circuit components arefed by the feeding mechanism, and wherein the component-holding portionis pendent from an intermediate portion of the elongate main portion.22. A feeder according to claim 21, wherein the main portion includes aheld portion which is located on one side of the intermediate portionthereof and which is adapted to be held by the movable table.
 23. Afeeder according to claim 22, wherein the main portion includes thecomponent-supply portion which is located on the other side of theintermediate portion of the main portion and is distant from the heldportion of the main portion.
 24. A feeder according to claim 20, whereinthe connecting device comprises relative-rotation allowing means forallowing the component-holding portion to be rotated relative to themain portion about an axis line which is substantially vertical.
 25. Afeeder according to claim 20, wherein the connecting device comprises:at least one connecting member which extends in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to a direction in which the movable table ismoved; a first hinge device which connects one of opposite end portionsof the connecting member to the main portion, such that the connectingmember is pivotable about a first axis line which is perpendicular tothe direction of movement of the movable table; and a second hingedevice which connects the other end portion of the connecting member tothe component-holding portion, such that the connecting member ispivotable about a second axis line which is perpendicular to thedirection of movement of the movable table and which is distant from thefirst axis line in the direction substantially perpendicular to thedirection of movement of the movable table.
 26. An apparatus accordingto claim 25, wherein the connecting member comprises a torsion memberwhich is elastically twistable about a lengthwise axis line thereof, andwhich allows the component-holding portion to be rotated relative to themain portion about an axis line which is substantially vertical.
 27. Acircuit-component mounting system comprising: a circuit-componentsupplying apparatus comprising a plurality of feeders each of whichstores a plurality of circuit components of a same sort and whichsupplies the components one by one from a component-supply portionthereof, a movable table which holds the feeders such that therespective component-supply portions of the feeders are arranged along aline and which is movable with the feeders in a direction parallel tosaid line, and a table-driving device which moves and stops the movabletable to position the component-supply portion of each of the feeders ata predetermined component-supplying position, the feeders comprising atleast one connected feeder which comprises a main portion a componentholding portion and a connecting device, wherein (1) said main portioncomprises (a) the component-supply portion of said connected feeder, (b)a frame member which is held by the movable table so that the mainportion is not movable relative to the movable table in said directionparallel to said line, and (c) a feeding mechanism which is supported bythe frame member and feeds the circuit components one by one to thecomponent-supply portion of said connected feeder, (2) saidcomponent-holding portion holds the circuit components such that thecomponents are fed to the component-supply portion of the main portionby the feeding mechanism, and (3) said connecting device connects thecomponent-holding portion to the main portion such that when the mainportion is moved with the movable table in said direction parallel tosaid line, the component-holding portion follows the main portion whilethe connecting device allows a center of gravity of thecomponent-holding portion and the circuit components held thereby to bemoved relative to the main portion in a direction substantially parallelto said line; a circuit-substrate supporting device which supports acircuit substrate; and a circuit-component mounting device whichreceives the circuit components supplied by the circuit-componentsupplying apparatus and mounts the components on the circuit substratesupported by the circuit-substrate supporting device.
 28. A systemaccording to claim 27, wherein the circuit-component mounting devicecomprises a plurality of component-holding heads which are revolveableabout an axis line which is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane,and a head-revolving device which revolves the component-holding headsabout the axis line and sequentially stops the heads at a predeterminedcomponent-mounting position, and wherein the circuit-substratesupporting device comprises a circuit-substrate supporting member whichsupports the circuit substrate, and a supporting-member moving devicewhich moves the circuit-substrate supporting member to a desiredposition on a substantially horizontal plane.
 29. A system according toclaim 27, wherein the component-holding portion of said one feedercomprises a reel-holding portion which holds, at a position below thecircuit-substrate supporting device, a reel around which a tape carryingthe circuit components is wound.